Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia: The Integument Bursts Asunder

"The integument bursts asunder" were the words of Karl Marx in the Communist Manifesto.
He used them to describe the revolutionary ferment in mid 19th century Europe. They are
certainly appropriate to describe the revolutionary situations in Tunisia, Yemen, and Egypt
today. Nobody can say where these revolts will go, but they reveal elements of a revolutionary
situation. In general, a revolutionary situation exists when the people are unwilling to continue with things
the way they are and the old order is unable to continue. That is certainly the case. The third
element is whether there is conscious leadership able to lead to a new desired state; that is
often lacking and may or may not be present in these countries. Still, if any fundamental
changes result from this revolutionary ferment, they could effect profound shifts in the
region and the world. Egypt, in particular, has been a keystone of US domination,
and a genuinely national new regime would be unlikely to play that role. The important
thing to realize is that this is a revolution "from below." Even Nasser's overthrow of
the monarchy in 1952 was from above. There was a mass uprising in 1967 to demand
that Nasser stay in power, but the demands today appear to be much more far-reaching.
The world certainly needs deep and profound changes; we can only hope that these are
signs that it is coming.

Palestinian/Israeli Negotiations and the Crisis in Lebanon

Al Jazeera has leaked documentation on the negotiations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israeli government. It seems that the PA offered Israel a chunk of east Jerusalem along with the token repatriation of a small number of refugees, perhaps in exchange for other territory. It also seems that Israel informed the PA before they launched their assault on Gaza in 2009. These revelations should further discredit the PA with the Palestinian people. It is very unfortunate that no real left alternative exists since the Palestinian left mostly self-destructed after the Oslo accords. So, Hamas will likely be further strengthened by this information. The leaked documents also make clear that the Israeli govenment rejected even this demeaning Palestinian offer, which proves, once again, that Israel never had any genuine interest in peace or negotiations.

In Lebanon, Najib Mikati has been chosen as prime minister instead of former prime minister Hariri. Sunnis are demonstrating and striking. The US government says it will no longer support the Lebanese army if Hezbolleh controls the Lebanese government. Lebanese see that as a joke since the US government had not been providing such support. But the real joke is the US government's love/hate relationship with democracy. They love to talk about it, but they reject it when democracy produces results they don't like, whether it is the election of Hamas in Gaza or Hezbolleh's political gains in Lebanon.

Fiddle String Chart

                       

STRING COLOR ENDS
BRAND	PEG_E	PEG_A	PEG_D	PEG_G	PEG_C	TAILPIECE_E	TAILPIECE_A	TAILPIECE_D	TAILPIECE_G	TAILPIECE_C
CHINESE	PINK	AQUA	BLUE	BLACK		PINK	AQUA	BLUE	BLACK
CORELLI---INTERMEDIATE	BLUE	BLACK	PURPLE	YELLOW	RED	AQUA--BLACK	AQUA--BLACK	AQUA--BLACK	AQUA--BLACK	AQUA--BLACK
CORELLI----MEDIUM	BLUE	BLACK	PURPLE	YELLOW	RED	PURPLE--BLACK	PURPLE--BLACK	PURPLE--BLACK	PURPLE--BLACK	PURPLE--BLACK
DIADDARIO--HELICORE	GREEN	BLACK	YELLOW	RED	PURPLE	BLUE--YELLOW	BLUE--YELLOW	BLUE--YELLOW	BLUE--YELLOW
DIADDARIO----PRELUDE	GREEN	BLACK	YELLOW	RED	PURPLE	RED	RED	RED	RED
DIADDARIO----PROARTE	GREEN	BLACK	YELLOW	RED	PURPLE	RED--BLUE	RED--BLUE	RED--BLUE	RED--BLUE	RED--BLUE
DIADDARIO----QUANTUM	GREEN	BLACK	YELLOW	RED	PURPLE	BLUE	BLUE	BLUE	BLUE
DIADDARIO----ZYEX		BLACK	YELLOW	RED	PURPLE	PINK--BLUE	PINK--BLUE	PINK--BLUE	PINK--BLUE
EURO	GREEN	GREEN	GREEN	GREEN		GREEN	GREEN--RED	GREEN--GREEN	GREEN--BLUE
GOLBROKAT	YELLOW					GOLD
BRAND	PEG_E	PEG_A	PEG_D	PEG_G	PEG_C	TAILPIECE_E	TAILPIECE_A	TAILPIECE_D	TAILPIECE_G	TAILPIECE_C
HUAYIN (CHINESE)	GRAY	PURPLE	GREEN	BROWN		BROWN	BROWN	BROWN	BROWN	BROWN
HUAYIN (CHINESE)---NEW	PINK	PINK	PINK	PINK		YELLOW--PURPLE	YELLOW--GREEN	YELLOW--BROWN	YELLOW--MAROON
JARGAR DOLCE--FORTE--/MEDIUM	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE	AQUA--RED--BLUE
LARSEN	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	BLUE	GOLD--BLUE	GOLD--BLUE	GOLD--BLUE
LEWIS	PURPLE	YELLOW	RED	GREEN		BLUE	BLUE	BLUE	BLUE
PIRASTRO---BLACK LABEL	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	BLACK	BLACK	BLACK	BLACK	BLACK
PIRASTRO----CHROMECORE	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	DARK GREEN	DARK GREEN	DARK GREEN	DARK GREEN
PIRASTRO----EUDOXA	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	GRAY--PURPLE	GRAY--PURPLE	GRAY--PURPLE	GRAY--PURPLE	GRAY--PURPLE
PIRASTRO----FLAT CHROME	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	PURPLE--WHITE	PURPLE--WHITE	PURPLE--WHITE	PURPLE--WHITE	PURPLE--WHITE
PIRASTRO----FLEXOCORE	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	YELLOW--MAROON	YELLOW--MAROON	YELLOW--MAROON	YELLOW--MAROON	YELLOW--MAROON
BRAND	PEG_E	PEG_A	PEG_D	PEG_G	PEG_C	TAILPIECE_E	TAILPIECE_A	TAILPIECE_D	TAILPIECE_G	TAILPIECE_C
PIRASTRO-----GOLD   LABEL	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	YELLOW	WHITE--GOLD	WHITE--GOLD	WHITE--GOLD
PIRASTRO----OBLIGATO		BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	RED--BLACK	RED--BLACK	RED--BLACK	RED--BLACK
PIRASTRO----PIRANITO	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	GRAY	GRAY	GRAY	GRAY	GRAY
PIRASTRO----PIRRAZI	GREEN	BLACK	PINK	BROWN	PURPLE	GREEN	GREEN--BLACK	GREEN--BLACK	GREEN--BLACK
PIRASTRO----SYNOXA	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	PINK--WHITE	PINK--WHITE	PINK--WHITE	PINK--WHITE	PINK--WHITE
PIRASTRO----TONICA	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	RED--WHITE	RED--WHITE	RED--WHITE	RED--WHITE
PIRASTRO----VIOLINO	GREEN	BLACK	RED	BROWN	PURPLE	BLUE	BLUE--BLACK	BLUE--BLACK	BLUE--BLACK
PRIM	PURPLE	PURPLE	GREEN	RED	BLUE	OLIVE GREEN	OLIVE GREEN	OLIVE GREEN	OLIVE GREEN	OLIVE GREEN
RAO--(LEWIS)	GREEN	BLACK	YELLOW	RED		GREEN	GREEN	GREEN	GREEN
BRAND	PEG_E	PEG_A	PEG_D	PEG_G	PEG_C	TAILPIECE_E	TAILPIECE_A	TAILPIECE_D	TAILPIECE_G	TAILPIECE_C
SUPER SENSITIVE ---RED LABEL	RED	BLUE	GRAY	GREEN	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED
SUPER SENSITIVE     OCTAVA	RED	BLUE	GRAY	GREEN	RED	BLUE--BLACK	BLUE--BLACK	BLUE--BLACK	BLUE--BLACK	BLUE--BLACK
THOMASTIC---BELCANTO				ORANGE	ORANGE				ORANGE	ORANGE
THOMASTIC----DOMINANT	PURPLE	PURPLE	PURPLE	PURPLE	PURPLE	PURPLE	BLUE	GREEN	YELLOW	RED
THOMASTIC----INFELD-BLUE	PURPLE	BLUE	BLUE	BLUE	BLUE	PURPLE	BLUE	GREEN	YELLOW	RED
THOMASTIC-----INFELD-RED	PURPLE	RED	RED	RED	RED	PURPLE	BLUE	GREEN	YELLOW	RED
THOMASTIC----SPIROCORE	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED	RED
WESTMINSTER	GREEN--PURPLE--BLACK					GREEN--PURPLE--BLACK

 String Descriptions -

Corelli - Synthetic core - Excellent balance and volume, easy playing, immediate response.

Helicore - multi strand steel core - quick response, warm clear sound with good longevity.

Prelude -  steel core -  clear bright sound with quick response

ProArte - nylon core - warm sound with good bow response

Zyex - synthetic core - warm sound with good bow response, very stable

Jargar - steel core - Bright full sound with quick response

Larsen - synthetic core - very warm but powerful

Chromcor - stranded steel core - warmer clear sound with quick response

Obligato - synthetic core - warm, brilliant, clear and focused sound

Piranito - steel core - great student string

Pirazzi - synthetic - warm sound with wide dynamic range, intense and brilliant colorations and quick response.

Synoza - synthetic core - big sound, rich in overtones, rounded stable tone.

Tonica - synthetic core - big rich overtones, very good response.

Violino - round big sound with great projection - great student string

Prim - steel core - bright powerful sound

Belcanto - exceptional balance of tension, projection, and tonality

Dominant - Perlon core - feel of gut with exceptional stability, clear, rich in overtones

Infeld Blue - synthetic core - Brilliant strong and clear

Infeld Red - synthetic core - Warm strong and clear

Spirocore - steel spiral core - round, bright and powerful