Tumblr Tune of the Day - Little Green Bag by George Baker.
Couldn’t believe it when I heard this song playing in the background of America’s Got Talent last night.
It’s a classic - my Dad and I would rock out to the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack for hours and this was my personal favourite track.
Love that reality television is exposing today’s generation to music they normally wouldn’t get to hear!
Enjoy!
-A
I recently came across a series of double-exposure images that struck a chord in me.
They are beautifully serene and each ghostly image emits a different emotion.
Then I discovered they were taken by a 17-year-old English photography student named Ben Warner.
After checking out more of his work, I’m impressed. While he’s still learning, this is clearly an artist to watch.
To view Ben’s photography portfolio visit http://cargocollective.com/benjaminwarner/BENJAMIN-WARNER .
-A
Came across this photo by Gary Felton, and it instantly made me think of one of my favourite quotes from Moby Dick.
When I feel like knocking people’s hats off, I long to take to the sea as well.
If only I didn’t currently live in the prairies.
- A
NB: Gary Felton is a professional sailing photographer working in the Caribbean. See more of his beautiful work here!
SEA TO SHINING SEA - A beach in Maldives is alight with the glow of thousands of Bioluminescent phytoplankton.
According to National Geographic, scientists now believe they know how some of these tiny sea creatures create the unearthly light captured in these photographs.
They’ve allegedly identified a special channel in the dinoflagellate cell membrane thatis stimulated by electrical signals— which may be how the animals set the tides a-glowing.
This world is absolutely fascinating.
To read more click here
NB: Photos by by Doug Perrine and Travelart
-A
According to National Geographic, recent flooding in Australia has forced the ground-dwelling spiders to seek higher ground, and they have begun to blanket the trees and fields left untouched by flood waters.
Basically, it’s my worst nightmare.
A week of devastating rain has displaced almost 13,000 people in eastern Australia, and while I am concerned for those suffering in the aftermath of the flood, I can’t help but be fascinated by this phenomenon.
Robert Matthews, an entomologist at the University of Georgia told reporters it’s a clever defence mechanism. The spiders are spinning ‘trampoline’ like webs that help them escape the water.
So, basically, what he’s saying is that spiders are far more intelligent than we have been led to believe.
Scary.
Apparently, it’s not the first time the world has witnessed this strange Arachnid tactic.
After a massive flood in Pakistan, the spiders took to the trees, encasing them in a cocoon of webs.
I can barely stand to look at these photos, and I thank the Gods we don’t have the spider population some countries boast.
But I had to share it.
Because this is a crazy world we live in, and it’s so much fun to learn about it.
Even if sometimes what you learn keeps you up at night. ;)
Check out the full story here .
-A
Nb: Photos by Daniel Munoz, Reuters; Lukas Coch, European Pressphoto Agency and Russell Watkins, U.K. Department for International Development
Tumblr Tune of the Day
Worth Wondering by Bronze Radio Return
Every once in a while, you come across a song that stops the world from spinning, just for a moment.
That’s what this one did for me.
It’s exquisite and the lead singer is full of soul with a gritty, golden tone.
Enjoy!
-A
P.S Strawberry Hills from their 2009 self-released album Old Time Speaker is just as good, but I can’t seem to find it on Youtube!
I have been trying to decide how I wanted to attack the Chris Brown and Rihanna issue on my blog.
Like millions, I watched the #grammys Twitter hashtag explode with little girls and ignorant women extolling their love for Chris Brown, in spite of his “misdeeds”.
“Everyone shut up about Chris brown being a woman beater… he can beat me up all night if he wants,” tweeted one woman.
“I know Rihanna didn’t like it much, but Chris brown you can punch me in the face all you want. #sorrynotsorry #sexy,” wrote another.
‘You can beat me anytime’ seemed to be the general sentiment.
It made me feel sick inside.
That there are women out there who think so little of themselves.
Who think so little of their mothers and sisters and daughters.
The issue of Rihanna now collaborating with Brown has brought the Twitter conversation to light again.
And today, I came across a story about a woman who has experienced domestic abuse firsthand.
She had a message to send to all those sad girls in the world who made light of a crime that kills women.
I’ve posted the story below.
To be honest, I don’t know if the blog I listed is the orginal source.
Tumblr can be confusing like that, no one properly attributes information.
In any case, this woman doesn’t need a name to make an impact.
As for Rihanna, who I’ve always felt a special connection with because we’re both from Barbados, she needs to examine her actions carefully.
Whether you like it or not, as a musician you become a role model.
Little girls everywhere want to emulate you, in every way.
You just don’t get to make selfish decisions like this when you’re a musical icon.
For the record, no man will ever beat me. Or my daughters. Or their daughters.
Not on my watch.
Because I will instill a sense of self-worth in them. As my mother did in me.
-A
Source: http://drdonnaatx.tumblr.com
A cautionary tale for Chris Brown fans
When I was 19 I married my high school sweetheart. He had never hit me in anyway. Never had yelled at me. He was in the Navy and we moved nearly 1000 miles away from home. We had been married one week when he first slapped me. I forgave him. We had been married about a year when he first punched me in the stomach. I forgave him. After about a year and a half it became common for him to slap, punch or kick me. I lived for the times he was out to sea. I made excuses. I never blamed him, I always blamed me. After three years of marriage we moved back to our home state. After we had been to visit family, he punched me the entire trip home and had left bruises on my face and arms. All because I smiled and hugged one my best friends a gay man. I knew he would kill me. I went to work the next day and was paid while I found a shelter and went to a doctor. I went home and packed. He came home early and proceeded to beat me with his fists, a belt and kicked me repeatedly. He also threw me down stairs. The only reason I’m alive is that I played dead and he went to look for something to put “that dead cunt in”. I was able to open the door and get out of that apartment and stop a car and get help. I found out later that the doctors at the hospital didn’t think I would make it through the night. I had 4 broken ribs, a punctured lung, fractured skull, broken leg, fractured leg, a broken nose, a broken ankle and various other injuries. They told my dad that if I hasn’t told the person that took me to the hospital what had happened they would have thought I had been in a car accident. They told dad it would be a miracle if I lived. My dad was planning my funeral in his head. When I woke up I talked to the police, got a restraining order and filed for divorce. He went to jail for less than a year.
He remarried someone who knew me. Someone who had seen the pictures, someone who wouldn’t listen to me. She said he was “too hot to do that” she also said “he can hit me anytime”. He does, I’ve seen her bruises. She is living in hell now because she didn’t listen or pay attention to the police report.
Those girls out there saying that Chris Brown can hit them. He will girls and next time he’ll be sure to get someone that is not famous and won’t have an army behind her. He might even kill you but don’t worry sure he will look “hot” doing it. Grow up and stop idolizing an abuser. He doesn’t deserve a Grammy, a number 1 album. He deserves to be treated the same way he treated Rhianna. If you want to see what someone like him can do volunteer at a shelter and you will see.
Nb: Photo source http://4.bp.blogspot.com
Twenty-seven years ago photographer Steve McCurry snapped a photo of a young girl who would become known the world over as the ‘Afghan Girl’.
McCurry was documenting the ordeal of Afghanistan’s refugees in Pakistan, and took what he thought was going to be just another shot of a sad, refugee child.
But this photo was different.
It would go on to grace the cover of National Geographic in June 1985 and be heralded as “the most recognized photograph” in the history of the magazine.
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes became a symbol of the 1980s Afghan conflict.
Those who came across her photo, myself included, couldn’t help but wonder who she was.
McCurry made several attempts in the 90s to locate her but was unsuccessful.
Then, in 2002, a National Geographic team traveled to Afghanistan to find her.
The search for the Afghan girl turned up many false leads but eventually she was found, and the identity of the woman whose eyes had haunted the world for so long was finally revealed.
Though time has changed the plains of her face, and the hardships of living in war-torn Afghanistan have aged her, the Afghan girl is just as beautiful as ever.
And her name is Sharbat Gula.
To read the feature article on Gula – A Life Revealed by Cathy Newman click here.
-A
NB: Photographs by Steve McCurry
Valentine’s Day themed Tumblr Tunes of the Day
On this, the day of love, I’m posting a few of my very favourite love songs.
These are songs that move me and undo me.
Each one is lyrically and melodically a work of art.
As a society we are obsessed with the concept of love, so it’s no surprise musicians go to such great lengths to capture the idea in song.
These are a few that have succeeded, in my opinion.
1. The Way You Look Tonight - By Frank Sinatra
2. My Best Friend by Tim McGraw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDm2AIw7Myo
3. I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2m4eEbnR5I
4. At Last by Etta James
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uunRdQ61M
5. Have I told you Lately by Rod Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY1PbweGeEo
6. Love Sponge by Buju Banton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu4iUf-jy8s
7. Love Story by Taylor Swift
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E&ob=av3e
8. This Year’s Love by David Grey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo-tp0JZvUA
9. Something by The Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzkhOmKVW08
10. Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman by Bryan Adams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq2KgzKETBw
Bonus feature: This song has one of my favourite song lyrics of all time.
“When you can see your unborn children in her eyes, you know, you really love a woman.”
I’ll leave you with that lovebirds!
Enjoy and Happy Love Day!
-A
Posted: Feb 14, 2012 9:44 AM MST
Reporter: Noreen Turyn | Videographer: Jemon Haskins
Lynchburg, VA - So many wonderful love stories came into our newsroom when we asked for the Greatest Love Story out there, but our viewers have selected the winner.
On Valentine’s Day we highlight the story of Pershing and Margaret Mays. Margaret is 94 and Pershing turns 94 in March.
Read more: http://www.wset.com/story/16932128/greatest-love-story
(Editor’s Note: This blog post first appeared on Dear Such and So - Keyboard Venting.)
In a world inundated with online profiles and carpal tunnel-inducing text addiction, real connections are tragically rare. Let’s keep it real: The Notebook is sugary bullshit, and Nicholas Sparks is kind of an asshole for peddling it. That is why when I saw this narrative on TLC last night, I knew I had to share this example of unrefined and authentic love to the masses here in Charlotte.
Read more: http://clclt.com/bangtown/archives/2012/02/14/the-greatest-love-story-ever-told
More than 11 million Valentine’s Day cards will be received in the post today, lovers will awake to red roses, while tonight sweet nothings will be whispered across candlelit dinner tables up and down the country.
But few will appreciate their other halves more than Laura Baldwin, a member of the Military Wives choir, whose number one hit Wherever You Are, was based on love letters written to their soldier husbands.
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/family/now-my-husbands-home-from-afghanistan-this-will-be-our-most-683758
Valentine couple has learned what makes a marriage work
Appeared in print: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, page A1
SPRINGFIELD — When Elva and Roscoe Redden decided to go to the courthouse in Antlers, Okla., to get married on that Saturday in February all those years ago, they say they didn’t realize that every year after they would be celebrating their wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day.
Then again, they also never thought they’d be celebrating quite as many anniversaries as they have..
Read more: http://special.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27598011-41/roscoe-elva-says-anniversary-couple.html.csp
Images via http://www.aspieweb.net/ and http://lovemeow.com
