It is a good time to appreciate the insects
and functioning supply chains
and normal weather
and the fact that there are whales.

It is a good time to appreciate our loved ones
and tell people what they mean to us
and throw ourselves into romance with wild abandon
and be naked and vulnerable with someone who is gentle.

It is a good time to live in continuous appreciation
for the sun on our face
for the birdsongs in our ears
for a fresh cup of coffee
for a child's laugh
for a lover's touch
for electricity and clean water
for a visible sky
for breathable air
for arable land
for a living world.

It is a good time to cherish this orgy of terrestriality
with everything we've got
for however long it is with us
so that if the time comes to say goodbye
we can tuck it in lovingly and kiss it goodnight
like a tired little boy
after a long day's play.
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Reading by Tim Foley.

It Is A Good Time To Appreciate The Insects

Readings of all Caitlin Johnstone's articles, usually by her co-writer Tim Foley.

Composer, arranger, orchestrator and Emmy-nominated music director, Christopher J. Guardino has collaborated with Marco Beltrami, Doug Besterman, Erran Baron Cohen, Ry Cooder, Endless Noise, Martin Erskine, Siedah Garrett, Guns 'n' Roses, Patrick Leonard, Mark Mothersbaugh, Eve Nelson, Thomas Pasatieri, J.A.C. Redford, Jeremy Rubolino, Stephen Schwartz, Super Diamond (with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra), and Mare Winningham. He has contributed arrangements, orchestrations and conducting to the films of Wes Anderson, Raymond DeFelitta, Barry Levinson, the late Mike Nichols, Guillermo del Toro, and to The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (Grammy®winner - Best Children's Album).  With co-score composer Matthew Sklar, he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction for Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas, starring Jim Parsons, Edward Asner, Gilbert Gottfried, Mark Hamill, Jay Leno, and Kate Micucci, for NBC TV and Warner Brothers Animation. Currently, Christopher arranges, orchestrates and conducts for the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning television show, Crazy Ex Girlfriend (on the CW Network) and for Matt Groening's Disenchantment (on Netflix).

In the concert world, Christopher has composed for a variety of performing artists and ensembles. His "Nella Luce", composed for the National Children's Chorus, was given its world premiere at Royce Hall (Los Angeles) and its east coast premiere at Carnegie Hall (NYC) in 2015.

A few of Christopher's chamber works are published by/can be purchased here: https://sheetmusicbyfatrock.com/?s=Guardino

As an educator and teacher of music, Christopher has been a chamber music coach and conductor for the Suzuki Music Program of Los Angeles, a Resident Teaching Artist at the Brandeis-Bardin Summer Arts Institute, and a Visiting Professor in the music department at California State University, Los Angeles.  Privately, he teaches students in composition, counterpoint (species, canon, fugue), improvisation, music analysis (Schenkerian), piano, and solfège (fixed Do). 

Christopher was born not far from Los Angeles into an artistic family and studied piano from an early age.  On scholarships, he attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City and the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, France.  Among his mentors and teachers were Leonard Bernstein, Narcìs Bonet, Felix Galimir, Gérard Grisey, Dr. Charles Kaufman, David Loeb, George Monseur, Dr. Hugo Norden, Thomas Pasatieri, Marie Powers, Carl Schachter, and Louise Talma.

http://www.facebook.com/christopher.guardino

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0345337

  Reviews

  “Guardino’s (music) was a revelation, displaying sublimely subtle keyboard shadings and passionate ‘cello lines that eloquently described the complexities and joys of spirituality…”

  “Guardino’s music for guitar was sensitive and imaginatively poetic…”

  - Los Angeles Weekly


  “Guardino’s provocative works were so smoothly and convincingly performed… that one might overlook the depth beneath the slickness”

  “…reflective and lush…”

  - The Los Angeles Times


  “…(Vlahos’ vocals) supported cushily by Guardino’s funky, insinuating arrangements…”

  - Backstage