I adore everything this Lucy Pepper puts her talents to:
Here's her version of "A very silly story, inspired by 51 twittersourced things."
51 from lucy pepper on Vimeo.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
M.I.A.'s new video BORN FREE: Is controversial always better?
So, my husband sent me a link to a new video (Born Free by M.I.A.) for a couple of reasons:
One, because he knows I have always been a huge fan of Costa-Gavras's work, and the video is, interestingly, made by Romain-Gavras, his son who is clearly a chip off the old block. In fact, this video, Born Free, is the second politically controversial video he's made, the first being a video of a song called Stress by the group, Justice. (I guess there's a lot of pissed off gang kids in France these days making Clockwork Orange look like just a bad shopping day at The Block At Orange.)
*Personal note*
Digression
I happen to love political drama. I must have seen Missing and The Music Box, and Pan's Labyrinth (made not by Costas-Gavras, but Guillermo Del Toro) about 5 times each.
I have always felt that artists and storytellers should use their talents to help contribute back to the community they live in on a global level. I know there's such a larger picture outside of our pathetic little lives that is so much more important and I don't feel we always use our talents to address the world at large. And, yet caring about how the entire planet interacts is fundamental. I digress.
And IF one is lucky enough to be born with a talent for expression with words, or music or even a paintbrush -- why not have a political opinion now and then? I know artists are rarely drawn to getting political, but they need to, sometimes.
It's so important to use one's passion for storytelling to help educate the numb, the clueless to remind us of what we need to do to keep this world a place of beauty and harmony.
Sadly, there really is bad and evil out there. Tragically, there are political movements designed to rob the world of it's goodness. I feel that artists should occasionally do whatever they can to wake us up and motivate us to create change for the better.
She stepped down from her soapbox and poured herself another cup of coffee.
Returns to the computer.
The second reason he sent this on to me is because he knows I'm still blown away by work of uber creative musician, and singer-song writer, M.I.A. I still have the same MIA mixes in car's cd player, because I keep hearing new things in her work.
And the third reason was that it was his polite way of saying "Wait a minute, you're not blogging? What gives? Get moving."
Anyhow, it didn't come to much of a surprise to discover that their new video, a collaboration of Gavras and M.I.A. was not only uniquely haunting, highly political, but also pretty shocking as well. (NSFW)
Not sure how this will play on MTV, these days. Is there still an "MTV" these days? I'm hopelessly retro, I fear.
When I first saw this, I admit that it confused me for a bit and I began to ask myself.
Why do people hate red heads so much? Did Julianne Moore get rounded up by the red police when she was a child? (Actress and author of "Freckleface Strawberry")
And more importantly, when did the Irish move to Kosovo?
All joking aside, this video is not safe for work, and very NOT safe for children. It's very violent and graphic.
M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.
And, while I don't think that musically the piece showcases M.I.A. in all her glory, her musical "soundtrack" does serve the message of the piece quite well.
What do you think?
Is this video too violent and dark to work as a music video? Apparently Britain's The Guardian, thinks so.
But, I don't know. Perhaps this is a great way to make a statement to certain demographics who might not give a crap about racial profiling, otherwise.
One, because he knows I have always been a huge fan of Costa-Gavras's work, and the video is, interestingly, made by Romain-Gavras, his son who is clearly a chip off the old block. In fact, this video, Born Free, is the second politically controversial video he's made, the first being a video of a song called Stress by the group, Justice. (I guess there's a lot of pissed off gang kids in France these days making Clockwork Orange look like just a bad shopping day at The Block At Orange.)
*Personal note*
Digression
I happen to love political drama. I must have seen Missing and The Music Box, and Pan's Labyrinth (made not by Costas-Gavras, but Guillermo Del Toro) about 5 times each.
I have always felt that artists and storytellers should use their talents to help contribute back to the community they live in on a global level. I know there's such a larger picture outside of our pathetic little lives that is so much more important and I don't feel we always use our talents to address the world at large. And, yet caring about how the entire planet interacts is fundamental. I digress.
And IF one is lucky enough to be born with a talent for expression with words, or music or even a paintbrush -- why not have a political opinion now and then? I know artists are rarely drawn to getting political, but they need to, sometimes.
It's so important to use one's passion for storytelling to help educate the numb, the clueless to remind us of what we need to do to keep this world a place of beauty and harmony.
Sadly, there really is bad and evil out there. Tragically, there are political movements designed to rob the world of it's goodness. I feel that artists should occasionally do whatever they can to wake us up and motivate us to create change for the better.
She stepped down from her soapbox and poured herself another cup of coffee.
Returns to the computer.
The second reason he sent this on to me is because he knows I'm still blown away by work of uber creative musician, and singer-song writer, M.I.A. I still have the same MIA mixes in car's cd player, because I keep hearing new things in her work.
And the third reason was that it was his polite way of saying "Wait a minute, you're not blogging? What gives? Get moving."
Anyhow, it didn't come to much of a surprise to discover that their new video, a collaboration of Gavras and M.I.A. was not only uniquely haunting, highly political, but also pretty shocking as well. (NSFW)
Not sure how this will play on MTV, these days. Is there still an "MTV" these days? I'm hopelessly retro, I fear.
When I first saw this, I admit that it confused me for a bit and I began to ask myself.
Why do people hate red heads so much? Did Julianne Moore get rounded up by the red police when she was a child? (Actress and author of "Freckleface Strawberry")
And more importantly, when did the Irish move to Kosovo?
All joking aside, this video is not safe for work, and very NOT safe for children. It's very violent and graphic.
M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.
And, while I don't think that musically the piece showcases M.I.A. in all her glory, her musical "soundtrack" does serve the message of the piece quite well.
However, the entire piece is, I fear, too long and just too sophisticated and upsetting to be accepted by mainstream media as a "music video." Which is a shame since it poses some very important questions for all of us right now.
But, the video has made me think long and hard about racial profiling and the insidious nature of violence inherent in our natures. The sheer evil at the heart of all those who strive for global dominance. The evil wears us down, wears down our awareness of what's acceptable or moral. Technology regurgitates our actions back to our collective unconscious as cable news footage, and we accept the images as protocol without asking the obvious anymore.
What do you think?
Is this video too violent and dark to work as a music video? Apparently Britain's The Guardian, thinks so.
But, I don't know. Perhaps this is a great way to make a statement to certain demographics who might not give a crap about racial profiling, otherwise.
Monday, April 26, 2010
I Feel The Earth, Move, Under my Eyjafjalajökull!
Amazing dueling footage of Mother Earth's astonishing fury, both real and
as imagined by Disney.
(Note first clip of visible shockwaves from the crater at Eyjafjallajökull.)
Other than when you saw Disney's Fantasia, when have you ever before seen
red glowing lava as well as volcanic bombs flying through the air?
Then again, you could always skip real life and fast-forward to Disney's
Fantasia's Rite Of Spring:
I think I need the soundtrack of "Dueling Banjo's," here...
as imagined by Disney.
(Note first clip of visible shockwaves from the crater at Eyjafjallajökull.)
Other than when you saw Disney's Fantasia, when have you ever before seen
red glowing lava as well as volcanic bombs flying through the air?
Then again, you could always skip real life and fast-forward to Disney's
Fantasia's Rite Of Spring:
I think I need the soundtrack of "Dueling Banjo's," here...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Take A Giant Step - by the one and only Taj Mahal
My life has been really upside down lately, and rather mixed up and as a result I've not done much blogging as of late.
I've tried to learn more technological bells and whistles which, unfortunately have only served to make blogging that much more messy.
I apologize for this. Hopefully, I'll be up to speed before long.
In lieu of having anything of importance to say about the state of the world, or anything funny to share, I decided to go back in time and hunt down a recording of the first real "grown up" song I can ever remember coveting...And I can tell you that it was off of a great "hippie" album of one of my aunts and uncles, called "Take A Giant Step" by Taj Mahal.
I LOVED this album. Still do. And I think the entire message of this song sums up who I have always been, and who I will always be.
I adore this song.
Wish I had something live post. If anyone can find a live video of Taj Mahal playing this live, I can't tell you how grateful I'd be for the clip.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Restaurant review of Miceli's Restaurant in Universal City
I specifically asked people (whose taste I still trust and respect) for the name of a place to eat at which would not be generic "or Hooters" to entertain someone from out of town while they were in the area, which is how I found Miceli's Restaurant.
Here's my review of dinner out.
Micelis' Restaurant is definitely not your run-of-the-the-mill, urban strip mall eatery, like the over-priced crap on Universal City Walk. However, it is the kind of Italian dive I could imagine shooting Bonnie Blakely in.
Add to this it also hosts what I would call the worst lounge bar in the world.
I mean, to me, nothing says "nice dinner out" like trying to order pasta over screeched show tunes from "Annie" while being accompanied by a lounge band.
The bizarrely over-priced Italian ambience does not stop there, either, in fact the entire restaurant looks like a 1984 backdrop to a summer stock version of "Lady and the Tramp." Red candles. Red checked table cloths. Old, dusty wine bottles hanging from the rafters. Paint by number murals of Venice on the walls.
Nice high, prices and, you guessed it, a very loud lounge band where anyone -- ANYBODY -- can just get up sing. If you call it that.
However, it is dark-ish. Which is nice. And it does have twinkle lights. And it does not rush you through dinner.
So, those are good things.
It's also tasteless and blander than something you could defrost from Albertson's so think about that before you drop a good $80.00 for dinner for two on your next night out.
But, it was an expensive way to avoid the strip mall that IS the rest of Southern California. I will say that much.
One Star: For the twinkle lights, the "Venice" mural and the checked tablecloths.
Here's my review of dinner out.
Micelis' Restaurant is definitely not your run-of-the-the-mill, urban strip mall eatery, like the over-priced crap on Universal City Walk. However, it is the kind of Italian dive I could imagine shooting Bonnie Blakely in.
Add to this it also hosts what I would call the worst lounge bar in the world.
I mean, to me, nothing says "nice dinner out" like trying to order pasta over screeched show tunes from "Annie" while being accompanied by a lounge band.
The bizarrely over-priced Italian ambience does not stop there, either, in fact the entire restaurant looks like a 1984 backdrop to a summer stock version of "Lady and the Tramp." Red candles. Red checked table cloths. Old, dusty wine bottles hanging from the rafters. Paint by number murals of Venice on the walls.
Nice high, prices and, you guessed it, a very loud lounge band where anyone -- ANYBODY -- can just get up sing. If you call it that.
However, it is dark-ish. Which is nice. And it does have twinkle lights. And it does not rush you through dinner.
So, those are good things.
It's also tasteless and blander than something you could defrost from Albertson's so think about that before you drop a good $80.00 for dinner for two on your next night out.
But, it was an expensive way to avoid the strip mall that IS the rest of Southern California. I will say that much.
One Star: For the twinkle lights, the "Venice" mural and the checked tablecloths.
Yum! This delicacy will run you $18.99, thank you!
Miceli's Italian Restaurant
3655 Cahuenga Blvd W
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 851-3344
"The Red Balloon" and it's many inspirations
In praise of The Red Balloon, the award winning film, Le Ballon Rouge by Albert Lamorisse.
And, this is also in praise for those who bring the beauty of primary colors
into our everyday world.
Below are a few clips each of which contain different scores inspired by this
classic children's film, which I find interesting.
But, here's a link to the original classic film, The Red Balloon, as it was first released
which obviously is equally as beautiful.
(Grainy, but perhaps my favorite selection)
And, finally there's this version:
City Breathing: The Red Balloon. (Brooklyn Indie Band)
If you have never seen this The Red Balloon, then you must.
It's perhaps the perfect film about love and loss,
and having faith in a better tomorrow.
And, this is also in praise for those who bring the beauty of primary colors
into our everyday world.
Below are a few clips each of which contain different scores inspired by this
classic children's film, which I find interesting.
But, here's a link to the original classic film, The Red Balloon, as it was first released
which obviously is equally as beautiful.
(Grainy, but perhaps my favorite selection)
And, finally there's this version:
City Breathing: The Red Balloon. (Brooklyn Indie Band)
If you have never seen this The Red Balloon, then you must.
It's perhaps the perfect film about love and loss,
and having faith in a better tomorrow.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Pretty cool: CDC mashup boys
Okay, I know I missed out on the cool quota by not setting foot outside
Orange County once during the entire Coachella 2010 festival,
but, hey -- I can rock the house just fine myself, thank you very much!
Orange County once during the entire Coachella 2010 festival,
but, hey -- I can rock the house just fine myself, thank you very much!
I'll let you in on more details of our Girl Film Fest right here
- but right now I have to share this cool clip
- but right now I have to share this cool clip
of funky mixter djs that I really like.
Meet CDC: Some cool guy mash up mixers
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Local Southern CA High Schoolers Strut their theater stuff this weekend at CSULB TheatreFest 2010
Yesterday and today I get to play "Judge" at this year's CSULB 2010 TheatreFest!
(Question I could see on the faces of the competing groups: Was I a "Kara, Randy, "E" or a SIMON???"
(Answer: None of them in person, since every performance was on paper. So on paper I would say I was mostly Ellen, a little of Randy and a little of Simon. I wasn't dressed in enough bling to be Kara.)
So, yeah, yesterday I saw 30+ comedic scenes by So. Cal. High School kids, and today I get to see even more comedic monologues. Lots of great talent out there! Local theater kids everywhere need to step up their game because the competition is fierce! :o)
(To learn more about the CSULB TheatreFest competition click here.)
(To learn more about the CSULB TheatreFest competition click here.)
Today I get to judge Comedic Monologues today and I'm really looking forward to it!
Such great energy out there and some really talented kids. It's always a huge surprise who jumps out with the best performance. I learn something every time I do this!
Love it!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Bad Romance.
Semifinalists from Finnish TV show Kuorosota, engage in battle of choirs with unique performance of Bad Romance, by Lady Gaga.
- Hurry up and Finnish already.
- Hurry up and Finnish already.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Havent' seen TREME, yet? You crazy? Watch it!
Two trailers for new HBO's new show "Treme."
Just now saw first episode of "Treme,"(pronounced "treh-may") and I'm telling you the show is AMAZING. Set your DVR's, folks.
"Treme" is a great example of how art can play an important role in our society getting us to care about the right stuff. Art should always throw serve to throw a spotlight on subjects of importance: And in this case, the subject is New Orleans.
And I love the context of the telling of this story, starting three mos. post-Katrina. Brilliant context.
"Treme" manages remind us why New Orleans is still the crown jewel of America's best cities. And by doing so serves to both archive and reveal some of it's lesser known, quirky treasures. Things not everyone even knows, yet.
New Orleans's survival is connected to it staying on our radar. It needs artists and story tellers to keep reminding us that it's still there and needs our help. Appreciation for New Orleans has to be actively nurtured and revered or it may just wash away in the next hurricane. Perhaps if more people understand why New Orleans is so valuable, there will be more preservation and more funding to save it? I hope.
And the music in the show? Now, that's MUSIC. Love how they don't even try to educate the viewers who's who musically, they just throw it out there and give it to you. Either you fall in love with the different sounds and musical diversity, or you don't. It just is. Get it. Love it, or don't. But, this is what New Orleans is, folks.
I'm hoping that the way the characters in "Treme" view each other is a sign of times to come in other American cities:
Not as "them" vrs. "me," but as an "us." I'm hoping the rest of America becomes as color blind as N. O. appears to be in this post-Katrina first episode of "Treme."
It seems like the survivors there very much work as a team. But, perhaps I'm wrong about this perception since I haven't been back in over 20 years.
*Please indulge my own "New Orleans" Digression:
I was born in New Orleans and lived there till I was in second grade when, sadly, everyone in our family migrated away from the place. But, New Orleans has always served as the backdrop to my all my earliest memories about family, food, music, cities, and most of all, people. I have such vivid memories of it's sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
Memories: I remember the sounds of the peacocks screaming in the distance in Audubon Park. The way the afternoon rain would come steaming up off the sidewalks, which were always in huge broken slabs up and over the oak tree's roots. The painful, hot crunching of endless bleached white shells in the driveway of my grandparent's house in Slidell.
The taste of lake pontchartrain in my nose and mouth.
Surviving swimming in that vile water. The rattle of the street car and how beautiful and old the wood and polished brass was.
Mom letting me pull the line to signal our stop. The smells of the French Quarter. We went every Sunday to Caf du Monde and I had a tiny box of chocolate milk and beignets. Aways spilling the powdered sugar over me.
I miss it deeply even though I know I can never return to that place ever again.
Another personal "six degrees" connection for me about "Treme" is that it stars actress, Melissa Leo. She also attended the same small private school in Vermont, that I did, back in the seventies. Vermont being the place that my former New Orleans parents "migrated to" after New Orleans.
Even in this tiny, bohemian school as kids we all knew Melissa was going to do something amazing artistically because of how much integrity she put into her work. She was always intense, private, focused and so powerful. I could not be a bigger fan of hers, so I'm thrilled Leo's part of "Treme's" great cast, too.
Oh, and the food side of "Treme?"-- The writers GET New Orleans! That's all I have to say.
Just one show in and now I just want to cook and eat....and drink. (Neil Ravenna, are you watching this show, yet?)
What can I say? "Treme" is one big, fat slice of Big Easy pie, and I'm loving every minute.
Just now saw first episode of "Treme,"(pronounced "treh-may") and I'm telling you the show is AMAZING. Set your DVR's, folks.
"Treme" is a great example of how art can play an important role in our society getting us to care about the right stuff. Art should always throw serve to throw a spotlight on subjects of importance: And in this case, the subject is New Orleans.
And I love the context of the telling of this story, starting three mos. post-Katrina. Brilliant context.
"Treme" manages remind us why New Orleans is still the crown jewel of America's best cities. And by doing so serves to both archive and reveal some of it's lesser known, quirky treasures. Things not everyone even knows, yet.
New Orleans's survival is connected to it staying on our radar. It needs artists and story tellers to keep reminding us that it's still there and needs our help. Appreciation for New Orleans has to be actively nurtured and revered or it may just wash away in the next hurricane. Perhaps if more people understand why New Orleans is so valuable, there will be more preservation and more funding to save it? I hope.
And the music in the show? Now, that's MUSIC. Love how they don't even try to educate the viewers who's who musically, they just throw it out there and give it to you. Either you fall in love with the different sounds and musical diversity, or you don't. It just is. Get it. Love it, or don't. But, this is what New Orleans is, folks.
I'm hoping that the way the characters in "Treme" view each other is a sign of times to come in other American cities:
Not as "them" vrs. "me," but as an "us." I'm hoping the rest of America becomes as color blind as N. O. appears to be in this post-Katrina first episode of "Treme."
It seems like the survivors there very much work as a team. But, perhaps I'm wrong about this perception since I haven't been back in over 20 years.
*Please indulge my own "New Orleans" Digression:
I was born in New Orleans and lived there till I was in second grade when, sadly, everyone in our family migrated away from the place. But, New Orleans has always served as the backdrop to my all my earliest memories about family, food, music, cities, and most of all, people. I have such vivid memories of it's sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
Memories: I remember the sounds of the peacocks screaming in the distance in Audubon Park. The way the afternoon rain would come steaming up off the sidewalks, which were always in huge broken slabs up and over the oak tree's roots. The painful, hot crunching of endless bleached white shells in the driveway of my grandparent's house in Slidell.
The taste of lake pontchartrain in my nose and mouth.
Surviving swimming in that vile water. The rattle of the street car and how beautiful and old the wood and polished brass was.
Mom letting me pull the line to signal our stop. The smells of the French Quarter. We went every Sunday to Caf du Monde and I had a tiny box of chocolate milk and beignets. Aways spilling the powdered sugar over me.
I miss it deeply even though I know I can never return to that place ever again.
Another personal "six degrees" connection for me about "Treme" is that it stars actress, Melissa Leo. She also attended the same small private school in Vermont, that I did, back in the seventies. Vermont being the place that my former New Orleans parents "migrated to" after New Orleans.
Even in this tiny, bohemian school as kids we all knew Melissa was going to do something amazing artistically because of how much integrity she put into her work. She was always intense, private, focused and so powerful. I could not be a bigger fan of hers, so I'm thrilled Leo's part of "Treme's" great cast, too.
Oh, and the food side of "Treme?"-- The writers GET New Orleans! That's all I have to say.
Just one show in and now I just want to cook and eat....and drink. (Neil Ravenna, are you watching this show, yet?)
What can I say? "Treme" is one big, fat slice of Big Easy pie, and I'm loving every minute.
Monday, April 12, 2010
My 1978 Flashback - K. C. And The Sunshine Band - Moment
K. C. and the Sunshine Band:
Never a favorite band, but for me, an evocative one.
Random memories this song makes me flashback to:
"Jazz Dance."
1978. The NCSA snack bar. 9:00 P.M. Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Me and Betty Ann Byerly laughing so hard we peed in our pants.
Dopey character shoes, Capezio wrap skirts and endless, black leotards.
(Worse: Black leotards on guys!)
*Note:* Any male ceases to be "hot" once they've shown up to acting class exposing their skanky bare feet and wearing a black leotard.
It's all a terribly cruel prank by acting teachers in full mid-life crisis to make young men do this.
BTW: Betty Ann Byerly was the most fun I've had domesticating with someone that did not result in marriage.
Going to the mall, pranking old ladies telling them we missed them at church last week, and how were their kids doing, anyway? Then watch them struggle to deal with this, clearly never having met us, but not being so rude as to admit that. Nobody was better at "playing church lady" than Hal Cline.
But, most of all this song reminds me of jazz dancing "in line" in front of the snack bar's juke box. Over and over and over again.
Using Molly Murray's super bad "Luigi Style" choreography.
Bumpin' and grindin' 24/7 in our sweaty leotards and leg warmers.
So many late night grilled bagels with cream cheese.
And, I have to say is, we were hot. All of us. H-O-T.
We were awesome.
Get down tonight, Baby.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
She's Baaaaaack!
For the first time in almost two years, Tina Fey reprised her her portrayal of Sarah Palin this weekend on SNL this time sending up Sarah Palin's new TLC Show "Sarah Palin's Alaska."
She also introduced another fake SNL show supposedly a spinoff involving her husband (played by Jason Seudeikis), as an outlaw cop transplanted from Alaska in NYC.
Was it as funny this time as it was the first time she did it?
Oh, I don't know. The problem is, I find anything to do with Palin less and less funny as she wiggles her way into our lives at every given turn, even when someone as brilliant as Fey juggles her missteps so cleverly into her comic portrayals of Ms. Palin.
She also introduced another fake SNL show supposedly a spinoff involving her husband (played by Jason Seudeikis), as an outlaw cop transplanted from Alaska in NYC.
Was it as funny this time as it was the first time she did it?
Oh, I don't know. The problem is, I find anything to do with Palin less and less funny as she wiggles her way into our lives at every given turn, even when someone as brilliant as Fey juggles her missteps so cleverly into her comic portrayals of Ms. Palin.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Our Backyard: The "Before Photos" In search of YOUR IDEAS
So, we have this really bizarrely shaped back yard with almost 300 feet of ugly cement that exposes our home to way too much of our neighbor's property. I hate it.
Last year I tried planting something called "creeping fig" to disguise the "Oh, wow! So, this is what Jail looks like" essence of our landscape design.
Here are a few more photos Pete took today of our backyard and I'm taking some landscape design suggestions from who ever wants to offer them for a cool way to bring the concept of privacy and green-eco appeal to our backyard.
Design goals: Privacy, beauty, drought tolerant plantings native to Southern California.
Design Obstacles: Cost. Too sophisticated labor. It has to be something I can do.
ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Spring Break and our trip to San Diego Wild Animal Park
Yesterday, our family took a spin down to Escondido to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, for what I can only say was an amazing day.
But, the high spot of the journey was watching this little guy -- nuzzle with his mom.
(Note: I don't understand why, but Blogspot has changed it's format recently and I can't upload photos up here like I used to. So, here's a link to my facebook page's photo albums to see my photos.)
The video is from a few months ago, but he's really not much bigger these days.
And there's another very hungry mommy elephant currently on "baby alert" who I can vouch was certainly "eating for two," yesterday -- This place is so beautifully, and ethically constructed.
Why can't all zoos be as loving and respectful of the animals and the environment as the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Zoo?
The entire message there was one of caring for the world and conservation. The really make sure all the visitors are well aware how endangered these animals are and how detrimental our impact has been on their native habitats. I think the message they instill in people is to care about our impact on the world.
I loved every minute.
Here's one of their baby elephants from a while back.
So cute. When their new little guy (born a few months ago) nursed he stood there patiently crossing and uncrossing his back two legs. So, serene and adorable. Then he napped in the shade under his mom.
These animals have trust and love for one another and it's so apparent. This is animal "entertainment" done correctly and ethically and I cannot speak enough praise for the way they have done their job.
Also, notable moments were in the butterfly jungle, when butterflies in all shapes and colors land on you, and blend into the tropical habitat and the Lion Camp where the glass barely separates you from these majestic beasts. It's really a gorgeous place to spend time walking in southern California terrain amid beautiful landscaping and lovely views of some rare creatures.
Anyhow, here's one video is of an elephant that is now bigger, but still looks smaller than the others.
Today, we will plant some native plants in our backyard. (Inspired by yesterday's walks)
And, tomorrow - we've decided to make the last day of our "staycation" feel special, so we'll make it Sunday at San Diego Zoo, for us.
We didn't take these videos -- but I'll add our own photos to this post later on, when I have more time.
But, the high spot of the journey was watching this little guy -- nuzzle with his mom.
(Note: I don't understand why, but Blogspot has changed it's format recently and I can't upload photos up here like I used to. So, here's a link to my facebook page's photo albums to see my photos.)
The video is from a few months ago, but he's really not much bigger these days.
And there's another very hungry mommy elephant currently on "baby alert" who I can vouch was certainly "eating for two," yesterday -- This place is so beautifully, and ethically constructed.
Why can't all zoos be as loving and respectful of the animals and the environment as the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Zoo?
The entire message there was one of caring for the world and conservation. The really make sure all the visitors are well aware how endangered these animals are and how detrimental our impact has been on their native habitats. I think the message they instill in people is to care about our impact on the world.
I loved every minute.
Here's one of their baby elephants from a while back.
So cute. When their new little guy (born a few months ago) nursed he stood there patiently crossing and uncrossing his back two legs. So, serene and adorable. Then he napped in the shade under his mom.
These animals have trust and love for one another and it's so apparent. This is animal "entertainment" done correctly and ethically and I cannot speak enough praise for the way they have done their job.
Also, notable moments were in the butterfly jungle, when butterflies in all shapes and colors land on you, and blend into the tropical habitat and the Lion Camp where the glass barely separates you from these majestic beasts. It's really a gorgeous place to spend time walking in southern California terrain amid beautiful landscaping and lovely views of some rare creatures.
Anyhow, here's one video is of an elephant that is now bigger, but still looks smaller than the others.
Today, we will plant some native plants in our backyard. (Inspired by yesterday's walks)
And, tomorrow - we've decided to make the last day of our "staycation" feel special, so we'll make it Sunday at San Diego Zoo, for us.
We didn't take these videos -- but I'll add our own photos to this post later on, when I have more time.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Jim Copp & Ed Brown: My Heroes.
Once upon a time, there were two very funny men, Ed Copp and Jim Brown, who did great voices, wrote wonderful stories and sang hilariously absurd songs. And together they created Playhouse Records.
* Link to buy The COMPLETE RECORDINGS of JIM COPP and ED BROWN
Playhouse Records offers CDs and cassettes. Please inquire about the availability of LPs.
The Cow and the Kitty Cat
Oh, Miss Goggins...How I love thee.
I can't recommend their recordings enough -- They are eccentric and creative and the best children's gifts you could ever find.
Around this time, there was also this odd, quirky young girl, growing up in Vermont without brothers or sisters, or any sense at all, really, who spent a great deal of time listening to these peculiar stories over, and over and over. For her, their theatrical characters and wonderfully dark tales all made her life seem normal and entirely understandable..So, what I'm trying to say is, that it's all Playhouse Record's fault that I am the way I am now.
Without their humor and creativity my life would have been infinitely more diminished.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NPR INTRODUCTION TO "WHO JIM COPP AND ED BROWN"
CLICK HERE FOR THE NPR INTRODUCTION TO "WHO JIM COPP AND ED BROWN"
The duo produced several funny, wacky, story records in the "mid century" years (for me, late sixties, early seventies) and then they "retired." I can't say they ever "made it" or were famous, but to me, they were brilliant.
But, I thought, like so many things from the past that their stories would fade along with their own passing, but, apparently, at some time in the 1990's a boomer-fan, like myself, looked them up and managed to re-release their work again, which has made some of us, very happy.
You can find a link below to this company that still sells the complete recordings of Jim Copp and Ed Brown.
The Cow and the Kitty Cat
Oh, Miss Goggins...How I love thee.
I can't recommend their recordings enough -- They are eccentric and creative and the best children's gifts you could ever find.
Children will never forget the tales of "Bradley The Bottle" or "The Cow and The Kitty Cat" or the "Marriage of Little Jenny Saucepan" or "Miss Goggins and the Gorilla."
I get teary-eyed just thinking about how great they are and all the many wonderful hours I spent listening to them over and over...
* Be sure to spend a few minutes listening to the great NPR "LISTEN TO THE RECORDING" link that discusses their genius for story telling to find out who these amazingly funny, super creative folks are that were Playhouse Records and Jim Copp and Ed Brown.
I LOVE THESE RECORDINGS AND COULD LISTEN TO THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
* Be sure to spend a few minutes listening to the great NPR "LISTEN TO THE RECORDING" link that discusses their genius for story telling to find out who these amazingly funny, super creative folks are that were Playhouse Records and Jim Copp and Ed Brown.
I LOVE THESE RECORDINGS AND COULD LISTEN TO THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
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