Incredible Library

Jay Walker, does things on an epic scale. The entrepreneur has a personal library filled with books and artifacts that would make a museum proud. Link to Wired article here.

David Usher - St. Lawrence River

Blue Rodeo -Trust Yourself (1991)

Leo Kottke - Pamela Brown (1982)

Lisa Kelly - The Voice

Sungha Jung - Fields of Gold

Damhnait Doyle

Pretty sexy singer from Labrador originally but discovered working in record label office in St. John's . Here she sings "Tattooed". She was in a group called Shaye but they have since gone their separate ways. She has a great voice, a down to earth sensuality and, by all accounts, is a really nice person. Her first name is pronounced Dav-net.

Asha Bhosle interview

Holly Cole Trio - Little Boy Blue (1995)

Gordon Lightfoot - Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (tribute video)

Gordon Lightfoot - Softly

Dareneh Jaan/ Aziz Joon(From five Persian Ballads dvd)

Holly Cole Trio - Cry If You Want To - live 1995 Montreal

Our Lady Peace - Starseed (1994)

Burton Cummings - Break It To Them Gently (Live)

Matthew Good - Strange Days

David Usher - Alone In The Universe (2001)

The Tragically Hip - Locked In The Trunk of a Car

Fantastic song and video that sets the mood and story for this dark song. Unfortunately, the user who added this video to youtube has disabled embedding. So I will simply add link to the youtube video page.

Baby Please Don't Go (cover)

Digital Vault

The Digital Vault website delivers a fluid and handsome exploration tool for mining the documents and photos stored within the archives of the United States. Click "continue" at lower righthandside to enter site and you can then delve into the collection by selecting documents you are shown. You can then fine tune the search to see items you are interested in such as military, music, politics etc.
The website is very well executed and will allow you to waste some time as you learn and explore.

A search feature is also available if you have specific interests and there is a the ability to create your own collection and do challenges called "Pathways". I put "music" in search and randomly clicked a result and was then faced with the "Statement of Intention" of Maria von Trapp of "Sound of Music" fame from her immigration to US from Salzburg, Austria. Now, I ask you, how often will you find something as unusual as that?

Take a look and see for yourself.

Anika Moa - Wrestle With Your Angels

Rory Gallagher - Could Of Had Religion

Kansas - Wayward Son

Top Ten Time Capsules

Listverse Top Ten Time Capsules

Monty Python - The Pope and Michelangelo

The Secret Museum of Mankind

From the website:

Advertised as "World's Greatest Collection of Strange & Secret Photographs" and marketed mainly to overheated adolescents (see the 1942 Keen ad, left), it consists of nothing but photos and captions with no further exposition. This was not a book published to educate (despite appearing on some public library's shelves), but to titillate (literally)— it's emphasis was on the female form ("Female Beauty Round the World") and fashion, and it featured as many National-Geographic-style native breasts as possible. But anything lurid, weird, or just plain unusual is fair game. This was a book to gawk at by flashlight under the bedcovers.

Secret Museum

Woodstock - rare performances

Woodstock,websiteVideo compilation of rare performances from Woodstock. The rest of the website looks like it holds some interesting stuff as well.

"Copywriter Blues"

Funny College Humor vid

Really funny vid about flame wars online sung to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire"

"We Didn't Start The Flame War"

Anika Moa - Youthful

Words fail to explain how gorgeous this woman is.

Scribd - ebook and document sharing site

Scribd

Scribd is a web site that allows users to upload and download items such as scanned books, maps, research papers and original writing. In order to upload and download you must register which simply requires a valid email address. After registering you check email and confirm that you received the message by clicking the confirmation link. I can see this as a valuable resource not only for the curious but also those with serious writing intentions and collaborative efforts. As you explore, you can add documents to your favourites as well as comment on what others have uploaded.

The categories are pretty straightforward if you simply wish to explore. Click the link for Books and you can then define the variety you are interested in further by choosing non-fiction, education, health etc. If you wish to download entire document you may do so in one of two formats (pdf or plain text). Some items however are only avaiulble for online viewing and give no option to download. Also, I had one hiccup with the download process as several times I tried to download pdfs and received the error dialog "Expected dict object" and no doc to view or save. After a brief search online I discovered the solution is to close Adobe reader and browser and then open Adobe reader again and change a few options. Specifically you go to Edit/Preferences/Internet and uncheck the browser viewing and the fast viewing option. After that you will receive a standard save dialog for saving the pdf to your hard drive and not have to view in browser and save from there.

All in all, a valuable and interesting web site for those you love books and exploring for knowledge.

LP Rip - Tracy Chapman

My second album rip is Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut. The reverse of the inner sleeve is same pic of her but she is smiling and slightly lighter yellow tone to graphic. Great songs on a great album. One of the better debut albums certainly from late eighties.

Tracy Chapman - Crossroads

Brilliant song.

Lily Afshar - interview

Classical guitarist Lily Afshar talks about her experiences teaching music in Memphis State University and being an Iranian woman in the West. Amazing talent.

Lily Afshar - Lullaby ( 5 Persian Ballads)

The first time I heard of Lily Afshar I saw her name in p2p search for "classical guitar". The song was Afro Cuban Lullaby by L. Brouwer. This clip is also a lullaby and is part of a dvd that consists of 5 Persian ballads. Lovely stuff. Tomorrow I'll upload video of her talking about living in Memphis where she teaches.

Tracy Chapman - Baby, Can I Hold You (acoustic)

This song is from her self-titled debut "Tracy Chapman" and is performed live in what looks like a radio station studio. I remember when she first arrived on the scene and seeing her interviewed on, I believe, The Tonight Show (with Carson). Two things I recall from that show was that she seemed to be an amazingly warm and talented person and that she mentioned she had planned on becoming a vet before her musical aspirations bore any fruit. I am not surprised that she gave up her animal care goals, but, the fact she still has that charisma and seems unaffected by fame is. There are several other videos of her in same studio where she was promoting her 8th studio album "Our Bright Future" and I would encourage you to check them out as well.

Anika Moa - Dreams In My Head

This video is from her latest album "In Swings The Tide" and has a country pop thing going for it. I think it shows her range as a performer, both singing wise and simply as a video star. Of course, from my previous posts involving her, you could probably tell that I would think any snippet of her lovely face and delicious dimples would be worthy of another posting.

Los Lobos - La Pistola Y El Corazon

Video of Los Lobos playing title track from their fabulous album from 1988.


No se como decirte
No se como explicarte
Que aqui no hay remedio
De lo que siento yo
De lo que siento yo

La luna me dice una cosa
Las estrellas me dicen otra
Y la luz del dia me canta
Esta triste cancion
Esta triste cancion

Los besos que me diste mi amor
Son los que me estan matando
Ya las lagrimas me estan secando
Con mi pistola y mi corazon
Y aqui siempre paso la vida con
La pistola y el corazon

No se como amarte
No se como abrasarte
Porque no se me deja
Dolor que tengo yo
El dolor que tengo yo

Esta noche tan oscura con sus
Sombras tan tranquilos
Y el viento me sige cantando
Este humilde cancion
Este humilde cancion

Los besos que me diste mi amor
Son los que me estan matando
Ya las lagrimas me estan secando
Con mi pistola y mi corazon
Y aqui siempre paso la vida con
La pistola y el corazon

First Album Rip - Los Lobos - La Pistola y el Corazon

This is a fantastic album in every way. The striking album art and earthy tones mixed with bright reds and white is handsome and appealing. The inner sleeve is black with white lettering on English side and tan with dark lettering on Spanish lyrics side. The music is vibrant and reflects the band members heritage and musical knowledge of their homeland, Mexico, although the band came together and is based in California. I bought this album around the time it was released...around 1988, and it has weathered well. Some slight wear and "yellowing" but, otherwise, pristine.

Eddy Grant and The Equals - Rub a dub dub

Eddy Grant, yes the Electric Avenue one...reunites with his old band The Equals. Grant was born in British Guyana and moved to the UK at 12. His roots are showing clearly and that's a good thing. I have a two cd set from Ice Records of him and the Equals greatest hits. Marvelous stuff for the most part although some are dated and, frankly, uninspiring or interesting. This live recording shows the chemistry and talent hold firm.

Amanda Marshall - I Believe In You

Wonderful video and fantastic song carried by Amanda's commanding vocals.

Dum Maro Dum video

This is dated Indian film (Hare Rama Hare Krishna) where girl is involved with the drug addled set and sings about it. Actual singer is Asha Bhosle but dunno actress. Great song extolling the evident virtues of a particular ummm....a...uh...plant. Groovy.

Pentangle (1968) - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme

Whose Line - News Conference - Santa announces retirement

Levi Stubbs' Tears - Billy Bragg

I have almost all of Billy Braggs' music on vinyl and several cds, including the retrospective Must I Paint You A Picture. The man can write a song and this one tells a story with the image of a tearful Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops. Always thought he was a great guitarist as well. This video was done in a continuous shot from start to finish sans editing.

Boubacar "Kar Kar" Traoré & Ali Farka Touré

Ali Farka Touré and Boubacar "Kar Kar" Traoré sing "Diarabi" while walking through a ruin in what seems to be Mali. This clip is from a dvd called "Je Chanterai Pour Toi" (I will sing for you) and is both haunting and inspiring. Wonderful, meaningful location and outstanding talent.

American Social History website

Briefly from the website itself:


"Aquifer American Social History Online - Find and use 19th and 20th century primary resources from unique historical digital collections. * search diverse digital content from 175 American Social History research collections * find more than 514,708 digitized objects in 9 formats, including images (photographs and cultural materials), books and pamphlets, journal articles, maps, sheet music, videos, data sets, political cartoons and posters, and oral histories."

I have not fully explored this site but it seems to be one worth mentioning and bookmarking. The browsing shortcuts to the right offer sections for time periods, places and subjects. The material would be useful for local research and general historical interest.

Winnie Pooh in Russian - Part 4

Eeyore's birthday has sent Pooh and Piglet on a mission. Pooh decided to give Eeyore a jar of honey and Piglet will give Eeyore a green balloon. Of course, the honey jar was soon empty so Pooh goes to Owl (Caba - Savvah) so that she could put his name on the jar. At Owl's house he finds a bell ringer suspiciously like a donkey tail. Meanwhile Piglet has a slight accident which leaves the green balloon no more.

All works out though, and Eeyore receives his gifts.

Winnie Pooh in Russian - part 3

First off, the voice acting is superb. Eeyore has a touch of melancholy and hypochondria.

I think it is Eeyore's birthday and Pooh decides to get gifts. I like the way Pooh rubs his nose...the ripples on the water. He runs to his house and rings his bell for Piglet. No one answers and he kicks his own door. Pooh is going to give him a jar of honey and Piglet decides to give Eeyore a balloon.

And, once again, Pooh likes to rhyme.

Otis Rush - Can't Quit You, Baby

Remarkable finesse and style on guitar and a phenomenal voice. The video is quite good as well. Blues the way it was meant to be delivered.

Winnie the Pooh in Russian part 2

Winnie continues his adventure after his unfortunate fall with collapsing balloon. This time, he and Piglet visit Rabbit who will, of course, provide refreshments for his company. There are many things I like about this little cartoon. The conversation at Rabbits door is funny as Winnie shouts into the door without realizing that Rabbit is watching from his raised "porch". After reading the mat at the door he wipes his feet into the open door. After a brief pause inside, the honey is dispensed and Winnie tries to be a good guest by washing Piglets face and briefly rubbing his own with the hand towel. I like the look he gives himself in the mirror to see if he is suitably refreshed.

The rest you can see for yourself and note how differently the American and Russian stories are played out.

I will provide chapter three tomorrow.

"Matrix Kitty" vid

Lone cat mobbed by a small herd of Cardigan Welsh corgi pups.

The cat was freaked but in no danger...except maybe drown in puppy drool.

Rory Gallagher -They Don't Make Them Like You

Winnie Poo in Russian

Winnie the Poo stories in Russian. The animation is unique and storybook looking, if you get my meaning. The characters and backgrounds are lovely and superb, the voice acting capturing the personality of each. Poo is relaxed and good-natured ...Piglet is kindhearted and loyal , Eeyore is morose but endearing.

The first video is the story of Winnie trying to get honey from beehive. The ending is abrupt, but from start to finish a delight.

BTW, Poo likes to rhyme.