That sweet voice of Jimmy Cliff. Make you want to just sit back and enjoy this world in which such fine beauty can be created. Many Rivers to Cross. Yah, mon.
A couple of my favorite Jimmy Cliff songs
Burlesquer twerking to Beethoven may tempt you to perform like an ass too
Chicago burlesque dancer Michelle L’Amour does a brilliant take on Beethoven: she twerks to his music, booty neatly adorned in a little silver bowtie. Brilliant!
Great words from the great Maya Angelou
A poem and some very good thoughts from Dr. Maya Angelou, a woman I admire so. Thanks Yulie for passing them along to me.
TO A PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou
When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn’t hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress.
But now that I am older,
I’ve set my body free;
There’s comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.
Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.
We should name hurricanes after climate change denying politicians
I agree: we need a new naming convention for tropical storms and hurricanes. The Ivans, Andrews and Katrinas of this world should not be made to suffer when the blame for climate change rests largely on the shoulders of climate change denying politicians who continue to encourage commercialization of natural resources and phenomenal pollution of our beloved Planet Earth.
In future, let us have Hurricanes Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Michelle Bachman and Senator Marco Rubio … and leave the unnamed innocents to remain peaceably anonymous.
GOP Dinophant!
Haha .. look at this … a GOP dinophant! [ seems about right to me : ) ]
Not to be confused with this thoughtful piece by Jose Luis Vilson on the importance of looking at education in terms of its impact on people of color, entitled Embracing the Elephant (Race and Education Reform) 
Nike continues a long tradition of youth exploitation
Some kids buy Nikes. Others kids make them.
When I shared this graphic on Facebook, friend Leen de Weerd-Mosley commented that Nike’s long history of youth exploitation,
… all started with their logo. They held a competition, and paid 50 euros to the student who designed it. Nope, no royalties … Paid $35 in 1971; offered 500 shares worth $150 when it really became public in 1983
At the party in her honour in 1983, an early Nike employee joked, ‘As everyone here knows, (Carol Davidson) invented the Nike swoosh and got paid the outrageous sum of $35 bucks for it’
I want to make sure all my friends know that English Muffins must get split with a fork (or another tined object) but never a knife. The point is to preserve the nooks and crannies which after all, is an important aspect of every good American’s civic duty.
Then you toast the muffin. English Muffins must always be well toasted. Apply jam, butter or cream cheese and munch happily away. My sainted mother passed these traditions along to me when I was a girl, and now you know too. Enjoy!
Watoto children honor Trayvon with hauntingly beautiful music video and original song
The loving and wonderfully talented young performers from Watoto from the Nile have produced a hauntingly beautiful song they call “Warning”. In their music video, the young people follow in the wake of Trayvon’s fateful footsteps as he walks to the 7-11, singing –
… Watoto here with a Warning … right now our Nation’s in mourning. Oh Martin Family, we’re with you … I put my hoodie oh I weeping … because this case is so misleading. We come together we must care … Trayvon Martin your spirit is in all of us.
Why fire trucks (used to be) red
When I was a girl, my father taught me why fire trucks are red. Of course, now that fire trucks come in yellow and white colors too, this story will eventually need an upgrade.
Fire trucks are red because:
They have 4 wheels.
4 x 3 is 12.
12 inches is a ruler.
Queen Mary was a ruler.
Queen Mary was a ship.
Ships sail the seas.
There are fish in the seas.
Fish have fins.
The Finns fought the Russians.
Russians are Red.
And fire trucks are always rushin’;
That’s why fire trucks are red.
PBS & TED review the state of education today
The Chicago Tribune has a fabulous article on PBS’ TED Talks Education hour long show on May 8 2013, which brought
… together a diverse group of teachers and education advocates delivering short, high-impact talks on the theme of teaching and learning. You’ll also see Chicago’s Malcolm Xavier London performing a spoken word poem about the racial and class tensions he experienced … London, who just turned 20, is a terrific fit for TED — which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. The nonprofit organization bills itself as being devoted to ideas worth spreading and often features people who have taken unorthodox paths giving talks about what they’ve learned
Whale Rider is so worth watching
Whale Rider is a lovely story of a native New Zealand girl coming of age in a dichotomized society in which the role of native women is being redefined. It’s a beautiful and exciting story, and the girl both rides a whale and is transformed by the experience … This is a movie you will find enchanting, mystical and thought-provoking.
Great spoof video on animal eating
In this video, two friends sit down to dinner, and one offers to show the other how animals eat their food. Totally destroys his friend’s dinner, but they have a good laugh.
Baby Micah & the magic tearing paper
Baby Micah loves to see his dad magically transform paper and celery into musical instruments by tearing them into little pieces. Micah laughs and laughs when these inanimate items suddenly spring to life with unique sounds of their own – that they won’t make for him but make for Dad every time. So fun to watch!
Dancing bikini man sings Call Me Maybe
Funny phrases
Things people say can be really funny – because sometimes we garble our intended message completely. Here are some turns of phrase I’ve found amusing.
- “I don’t have to stay at home and cowtail to some ninny”
This lady meant to say, kowtow (bow down) – instead of cowtail