12 year old Faryl Smith performs Ave Maria on the live final of Britain's Got Talent 31 May 2008.
You can see more of her singing by clickinig on the thumbnail pictures - they will appear across the bottom of the screen after you play the video - including her Dad tearing up backstage. (Well, if you were her Dad, wouldn't you?)
(Hat Tip to Norm Hooben)
Kaitlyn Maher, age 4, singing at the 2008 NYC Auditions of America's Got Talent - 5 minutes, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vNM5jyuD4 . She was the youngest contestant to make it through to the next stage in Las Vegas. Absolutely enchanting!
(Image from cybersalt.org)
Sometines you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.
(Hat Tip to Fred and Gene Hannah)
The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are not retreating. Periodically the glacier advances over the L-shaped "Lago Artgentino" ("Argentine Lake") forming a natural dam which separates the two halves of the lake when it reaches the opposite shore. With no escape route, the water-level on the Brazo Rico side of the lake can rise by up to 30 meters above the level of the main lake. The enormous pressure produced by this mass of waters finally breaks the ice barrier holding it back, in a spectacular rupture event. This dam/rupture cycle is not regular and it naturally recurs at any frequency between once a year to less than once a decade.
(Hat Tip to Fred and Gene Hannah)
Rick Lowrey at National Review let me know, as did a commentor. Sorry. It actually was too good to be true. It's been all over the net, free advertizing for Gatorade. Here's the story on the video, from http://www.lvrj.com/sports/20733749.html:
It's being billed on the Internet as "The greatest catch ever."
Too bad the video isn't real.
Gatorade, which has been airing a series of commercials of athletes doing extraordinary things, has a yet-to-air spot in which a ball girl at a minor league baseball game makes a catch that would make Torii Hunter and Jim Edmonds proud.
The footage, which surfaced on the Internet on Friday, was shot last month at a Pacific Coast league game between the Tacoma Rainiers and Fresno Grizzlies at Fresno's Chukchansi Park.
A deep drive to left field that is hooking foul is suddenly snagged by the ball girl, who scales the adjacent wall down the line, a la Spiderman, and then springs above to the outfield wall before gloving it. She then tosses the ball to a stunned Fresno outfielder and takes her seat down the line as if nothing had happened.
It's great video, replete with fans going bonkers over the catch. But the ball girl is an actress and the only real footage is everything up to the crack of the bat.
"We're getting calls from all over the country," Grizzlies public relations director Paul Kennedy said. "Everyone thinks it's real and our phone rings every five minutes wanting to know who the ball girl is."
Go to YouTube and search for ''ballgirl'' -- just don't believe it to be real.
Sorry everyone. But Gee, I wish it had really happened!
This is the famous Skidboot, perhaps the smartest dog in the world. You will see for yourself. Amazing! 8 minutes. Skidboot was hard to train at first, as his breed - Australian cattle dog - often is. But he learned so quickly that he became known as the smartest dog in the world, appearing on Oprah, Leno, Letterman and more.
Skidboot died on March 26, 2007. He waa old and going blind. The video below is a tribute to him. 3 minutes.
(Hat Tip to Bob Bailley)
Arthur Benjamin, Mathemagician
(Image from media.ted.com)
To see video, click here. Fascinating! You will be spell-bound.
Arthur Benjamin makes numbers dance. In his day job, he's a professor of math at Harvey Mudd College; in his other day job, he's a "Mathemagician," taking the stage in his tuxedo to perform high-speed mental calculations, memorizations and other astounding math stunts. It's part of his drive to teach math and mental agility in interesting ways, following in the footsteps of such heroes as Martin Gardner.
http://www.ted.com/speakers/view/id/177
Benjamin is the co-author, with Michael Shermer, of Secrets of Mental Math (which shares his secrets for rapid mental calculation), as well as the co-author of the MAA award-winning Proofs That Really Count: The Art of Combinatorial Proof. For a glimpse of his broad approach to math, see the list of research talks on his website, which seesaws between high-level math (such as his "Vandermonde's Determinant and Fibonacci SAWs," presented at MIT in 2004) and engaging math talks for the rest of us ("An Amazing Mathematical Card Trick").
"After his lively shows, students often rush the stage, eager for more tips and tricks."
Reader's Digest
(Hat Tip to Dr. George HunterIII)
j (Image from mtsu.edu)
Young Stacy Westfall won this 2006 American Quarter Horse Championship, riding without a saddle, bridle or neck-rope. Rousing, stand-up-and-cheer-ride! See video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7v8Ck1crg&feature=related. 6 1/2 minutes.
(Hat Tip to Paul and Sonia Browder and their daughter Michaela)
The Chinese Circus Ballet - Again
(Image from ciskis-dk.dk)
Once again, the absolute perfection of this woman's form and movement, from the Chinese Circus Ballet, here . 7 minutes.
(Hat Tip to Mike Thayer)
Absolutely gravity-defying! As well as breath-takingly lovely. You must see this! Be sure to wait past the finish of their 'Nutcracker Suite," only 1 1/2 minutes. Then - their Swan Lake ballet itself, just 4 minutes.
(Hat Tip to Joan Archibald. Link at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOqxSaW05p4 )
You won't believe this. Bach, "William Tell Overture" and more - all impossibly good. Incredible! 4 minutes.
(Hat Tip to Fred and Gene Hannah)
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Jud was born on Christmas Eve, 2004.
He is just 2 years, 4 months old in this video, singing the Star Spangled Banner.
Six months after this video was taken, on November 7, 2007, Judson died from an extremely rare genetic, incurable, terminal disease, called Krabbe, a leukodystrophy....
This video shows the delightful charm and grace this very gifted youngster surely must have brought into the lives of those around him during his brief but extraordinary life.
For more information about Jud, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/judson
(Hat Tip to Joan Archibald.)
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Hand in Hand - Performed by Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei.
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Zhai lost his leg when very young. She lost an arm in a car accident.
But their ballet won a dance competition on a Chinese TV network,
CCTV9.. Siimply stunning! Breathtakingly beautiful. Five minutes.
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Hat Tip to Robert Martin |
Credit and thanks to Signund, Carl and Alfred at http://sigmundcarlandalfred.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/how-bloggers-fudge/
(Never mind how long it is - you won't even care.) (But it's short.)
Her Mom says "Our three year old loves patriotic songs. She really wants to be in the children's choir but has to wait until she turns 5, so she's enjoying sharing music here in the meantime."
See if you think she's ready for the Big Time yet.
(Hat Tip to Joan Archibald.)
Kyle Lograsso, Age 5
(Image from media.phillyburgs.com)
Kyle Lograsso is 5 years old. He also has a pitch-perfect golf swing, almost identical to Tiger Woods in video analysis. He learned it watching TV at 18 months of age! But there is more, much much more, to the story of this kid and his family. This is one of most amazing stories you may ever see, for two reasons. One is the golf part. The other is the surprise part. Click here to watch this video.
(Hat Tip to Bob Bailey)
And about my mom too. (Well OK - about me too.) 3 minutes. Enjoy!
Hat Tip to Bookworm at www.bookwormroom.wordpress.com.
Toxic Stealth Movie for Kids
(Image from songphon.files.wordpress.com)
The Golden Compass is a movie that will be released on December 7. It is aimed at children by a well-known atheist. It is the first of his trilogy, which ends by having the children kill God in the last book.
This introductory movie has been watered down, in order to draw as many children as possible to the movie. It is also bait to get the kids to buy the books and to see the future movies. (This critique is no "urban legend" - Snopes classifies such criticisms of the movie as true, here.)
Bill Donovan of the Catholic League critiques the movie.
CLICK here TO SEE VIDEO
(Image from menbcmedia2.msn.com)
Below is the transcript of this video, also here:
A film called "The Golden Compass" opens December 7. It is based on the first book of a trilogy titled His Dark Materials. The author of this children's fantasy is Philip Pullman, a noted English atheist. It is his objective to bash Christianity and promote atheism. To kids. "The Golden Compass" is a film version of the book by that name, and it is being toned down so that Catholics, as well as Protestants, are not enraged.
The second book of the trilogy, The Subtle Knife, is more overt in its hatred of Christianity than the first book, and the third entry, The Amber Spyglass, is even more blatant. Because "The Golden Compass" is based on the least offensive of the three books, and because it is being further watered down for the big screen, some might wonder why parents should be wary of the film.
The Catholic League wants Christians to stay away from this movie precisely because it knows that the film is bait for the books: unsuspecting parents who take their children to see the movie may be impelled to buy the three books as a Christmas present. And no parent who wants to bring their children up in the faith will want any part of these books.
"The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked" is the Catholic League's response. It provides information about the film, "The Golden Compass," and details what book reviewers have said about Pullman's books; a synopsis of his trilogy is also included.
If you would like to order copies, you can do so by sending $5 (includes shipping and handling) to:
Catholic League
Publications Dept.
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123Or order using our online form. (If you choose an electronic copy, a pdf will me emailed to you.)
On orders of 10 or more, the cost is $3 per copy.
It is important that all Christians, especially those with children or grandchildren, read this booklet. Anyone who does will be armed with all the ammo they need to convince friends and family members that there is nothing innocent about Pullman's agenda. Though the movie promises to be fairly non-controversial, it may very well act as an inducement to buy Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials. And remember, his twin goals are to promote atheism and denigrate Christianity. To kids.
Please get the word out.
(Image from uweb.txstate.edu)
See the flight paths of the four 9/11 planes that struck the twin towers, the Pentagon and the one that crashed in a Pennsylvania field., at http://www.kerman94.com/911-Flights.HTM The flight paths of the two planes that struck the twin towers actually cross each other at one point. Fascinating! And strange.
(You interact with the site to see the 4 flights separately, or all at once.)
Hat Tip to Bob Bailey
(Image from dogbreedinfo.com)
This is really great! 31 Seconds. Click here
(Hat Tip to LeeAnn Clark)
(Image from truveo.com)
You simply will not believe the terrific sound that comes out of this young man of seven. Time is 1-1/2 minutes.
(Hat Tip to Joan Archibald)
He's just great too! Go here to see it - watch video. Time - 1-1/2 minutes
(Hat Tip to Joan Archibald).
(Image from montgomerycollege.edu)
Watch Jon Stewart blister Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball on the Daily Show. Six minutes.
Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole sings it at Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole
(Image from dcwhawaii.com)
Six-year-old Connie Talbot sings it on Britain's "Idol," "Got Talent"
(Image from dailymail.co.uk)
Or Judy Garland at Judy Garland - Somewhere Over The Rainbow in the movie "Wizard of Oz"?
(Image from us.movies1.yimg.com)
Which version did you like best - Israel's, Connie's or Judy's? Let us all know by leaving a comment below.
(Video from ymarsakar.wordpress.com)
Are man and women different? Oh yes! Although feminists have insisted for decades that there is no difference, or that any differences are culturally learned, not inborn, science is re-acknowledging that male/female differences are hard-wired.
How can the difference be demonstrated? Ymarsakar brilliantly uses ballet and ice skating to illustrate how men and women rely on, and play to, each other's strengths. Their different strengths are, in countless ways, a good fit. She says:
The ice dance seems rather a fitting analogy...since the man is the base and foundation, using his strength to lift up the woman, holding her and more or less protecting her with his strength.. She could not, after all, do what her partner does for her, yet it doesn't need to be exactly the same. A woman on the ice contributes grace, beauty and perfection of form and motion. Different from what the man contributes, which is a foundation, strength, endurance, and so forth.
Watch the video and just listen and see.
But neoneocon, a former ballet dancer, speaks not only of the grace of the woman, but also of her tremendous strength.
Back when I was dancing, my personal experience with partnering surprised me. What is required of the woman is what you don't see -- what is hidden by the impression of tremendous grace -- and that is a tremendous and steely strength.
Not upper-body strength to lift: that's what the man must have, who must also take care to hide the effort involved and not telegraph it or make it look any way but easy.
And it's not too hard for an onlooker to imagine how difficult it must be to lift a woman...even a 100 pound woman is harder to lift than a bag of groceries. It's much harder to imagine the strength a woman needs to hold her pose in the air, even upside down at times, and to conquer her fear and trust a partner who quite literally holds her fate in his hands.
Trusting a partner who holds her fate in his hands? Yes, literally. See this video of ice-skating champions from Russia, where the man, holding the woman high above his head, loses footing and she crashes down from that height, with such force that it knocks her out.
The sad part of that story was not what happened to her, but to him. She was OK, and quickly regained her willingness to trust him on the ice again. But he was not able to bring himself to risk lifting her again, and left ice skating.
Which perhaps brings us to the crux of the relations between men and women. That is, the courage to trust. It has to be there. If lost, it has to be regained. Then paired men and women can often move, function and live almost as one - united in body, heart and mind, despite their tremendous differences. That very real possibility keeps us pursuing the dream of men who complement women, and women who complement men. Who become more, together, than each could be separately.
Perhaps ballet and ice dancing move us so because they lift up the dream before us again. And la difference? Vive!
In case you thought that Britain's talent was all used up when Paul Potts aced the grand prize on "Got Talent," here is a six-year-old Briton named Connie competing. Watch what she does to Simon. Here she sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." You won't forget this one.
Hat tip to thedailyreel.com.
For all those of you who are fans of the song "Time to Say Goodbye", here is Paul Potts singing it. It is his second perfomance on Britain's "Got Talent" show, before his third performance which won him the grand prize. Enjoy!
Click here to see the video. Or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHYYz_mGP1U
(Hat Tip to thedailyreel.com)
(The same performance as in the post below this one.)
Then click here to hear Paul sing at the finals last night - and win! Or at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-dsTWaiRdQ
Last night, in Britain's "Idol" equivalent, "Got Talent," Paul Potts again sang "Nessun Dorma" and won the finals, receiving the grand prize. What he will do with the $200,000 prize money? He says, pay off bills. Get his teeth fixed.
It also looks like he may sing for the Queen.
Go, Paul!
Bernard Lewis: What Went Wrong? Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response
