NASA Image of the Day

Saturday, June 24, 2017

A Simple Case of Symphony

Picture, if you will, two very different seekers of solace: one, a self-assured, independent, intelligent, deeply sad, upwardly mobile, academically accomplished, woman of colour.Used to, thankfully, and comfortable in, a Canada where both her own freedom and her own search for self-identity are both possible, (if admittedly imperfect) , possibilities, the simplicity and solace of a concert where one is simultaneously at one with, and yet apart from, others, is still a defiant miracle, despite difference.
She has still managed, despite her insane academic schedule, her absence of social life, and deep concern at an externally imploding world, to fit in a mentally self-stabilizing concert where LIVE musicians still exhibit skill, mete out meter in measured doses of self-imposed regimen, and remind her of how little she still knows, and will continue to know, as her time, age, and academic credentials increase. She hopes she always bemoans too little time and the absence of required knowledge in her continued attempts to make sane, impassioned, reasonable assessments of the collection of knowledge, hoping, in doing so, that the application of that same will mean the difference in an uncertain world. It is hard, sometimes, to imagine the instances where that is made real.

Picture, if you will, a traditional, deeply sad (although not outwardly so) older man; used to being presumed to be brave; used to being presumed to be capable, comfortable with, responsible for, and the reason for problems with and for, the aforementioned young woman. He, too, defiantly attends, surrounded by, apart from, and yet enclosed within, the cocoon of the love of the gift of music. He is troubled, hypersensitive, bothered by an absence of appreciation and opportunity for, this gift that has given him this balm. He stands guard as artist and hero, fierce in his appreciation for, recognition of, and thankfulness for, the health and safety and......a flash! My God...he prays he might sleep without thoughts of guns or bombs or dead young people. His music is now all the balm of seeking he made in all of the songs he sang loudly, yelled fiercely, played loudly....instead and in place of, Death. Music still helps him see his way through it.

Angry with himself for thinking it might be, he grows gruff in his speech; abrupt in his gestures....makes contact clumsily but without malice, aside from that which age and Death insist upon, as our movements falter, our hearts contemplate....and our minds give us three seconds to act upon, in a stadium full of people despite the seemingly insane possibility that snatching away a gun or a bomb might result in his own death. The expected bravado, turned inwards, made silly.....denied balm, with hanging head, inwardly weeping heart, the protective somewhat stern father having been denuded.......desparked.

Hypersensitive to the idea of bonking heads or making contact in a modern/ancient frustration made doubly frustrating by being misinterpreted or assimilated into excessive, somewhat combative, academic arrogance........the old hero is vanquished. The enemy is unclear, however.

Its name is Fear, and it has, for a time, destroyed them both, prevented them from speaking, made them both presume, caused them both to move uncharacteristically and suspiciously, and....denied them what they both loved, for a time: a shared Balm.

This is a tragedy. It is especially so, because it is in my country, and despite understanding every terrible thing, both unspoken, and spoken, instinctively, which leads two such different people to attend the same place, for the same reason.....

Alas....despite the beautiful accompaniment which neither was able to attend, together...

My voice is absent.     

I am wearied, and ashamed, at having been too busy to get there in time to prevent it....the absence, I mean. Shabba Ranks would understand.

Just for Laughs Montreal - Rowan Atkinson - News for the Deaf

Mr Bean in 'Torvill and Bean' | Comic Relief

[HD] Toilet (Mr. Bean)

The West Wing: C.J. Cregg - From Press Secretary to Chief of Staff

West Wing Clip

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Seven and a half minutes of unequalled excellence.

Ethel Merman, Before the Parade Passes By, Broadway Salute, 1982 TV

John Oliver & Cookie Monster Out-Takes

Putin & Obama Go On "Dr. Phil" Show

Obama & Putin Phone Conversation on "Tonight Show"

Donald Trump Calls Madea

"Jimpire" ("Empire" Parody)

Will Ferrell Gets in on Jimmy's Summer of 'Stache

Tom's Cruise on the River Thames Corden

spinal tap: listen to the flower people

Spinal Tap Indonesian Folk Music

Ricky Gervais Discovered America and Invented Reality TV

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant - Steven Hawking

Ricky Gervais in "The Office Opera" - Red Nose Day 2009

"David Whitfield" sings Cara Mia - 1954

Bill Burr - Is There A Worse Woman In History Than Yoko Ono?!

BED PEACE starring John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Jimmy Fallon & Jack Black Recreate "More Than Words" Music Video

Jack Black sings When Doves Cry

Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve w/Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra - What's...

Friday, June 16, 2017

Top 10 Most UNFORGETTABLE Singing Auditions ALL TIME

Hilarious Synchronised Swimming Sketch

Rufus Harley - Sunny

Scotch & Soul-Rufus Harley.wmv

Jazz Musician Rufus Harley on "To Tell the Truth" (March 22, 1965)

A House is Not A Home - Sonny Rollins, Rufus Harley Live 1975

Jean-Luc Ponty - Mirage

Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart

I've Seen all Good People(studio)

Yes - Roundabout

Heart of the Sunrise by Yes in 1080p HD

Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells' Live at the BBC 1973 (high quality / remas...

Johnny Winter - Rock Me Baby

Johnny Winter - Johnny Winter (1969)

The Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride

Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein

George Carlin on some cultural issues.

George Carlin - Fighting Terrorists

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Funniest Thing EVER on Whose Line Is It Anyway

Funniest News Interviews Of All Time

Keeping Up Appearances / Outtakes Part 4 RARE

Peter Sellers - Pink Panther Outtakes

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Rhythm Nation" vs. Anthony Mackie's "2 Legit 2 Q...

Taraji P. Henson's Material Girl vs. Terrence Howard's Brick House | Lip...

Ron Burgundy Anchoring HIGHLIGHTS

The Commodores-Brick House

Jim carey does Vanilla Ice

SHE'S A BAD MAMA JAMA / Carl Carlton

Jim Carrey Plays The Guitar whilst Running for the entire interview

Jim Carrey Once Battled an Audience for 2 Hours

Jim Carrey and a Jew

Jimmy Carr DESTROY HECKLERS

White Boy Rips it at the Apollo

The Strawbs - Hold On To Me (The Winter Long) /Lyrics /HD

Pius Cheung - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto

Mozart -Amadeus the most beautiful scene

Drumline Flight of the Bumblebee & Funky Drummer

ColdSteel P-FUNK(hampton)

Stevie Wonder - I Can't Help It (Live In Studio)

Higher Love - Lilly Winwood with Steve Winwood

Simple Minds - War Babies

Simple Minds See The Lights

The Last Farewell ~ Roger Whittaker

The Last Farewell ~ Roger Whittaker