Lee GinÂgold makes the point rather artisÂtiÂcalÂly by way of The BeaÂtÂles.
Music can shape our youthÂful minds (which reminds me of this great aniÂmatÂed short, I Met the WalÂrus).
Music proÂvides the emoÂtionÂal soundÂtrack for the good times and bad times in our lives.
It fires the imagÂiÂnaÂtion.
It brings us togethÂer. Just watch 13,500 peoÂple sing “Hey Jude” in TrafalÂgar Square.
The botÂtom line? Music matÂters…
via Kim SherÂrell & @Alyssa_Milano
The search for extraterÂresÂtriÂal life brings us right back to where we startÂed, planÂet Earth, at least for a moment. NASA researchers have disÂcovÂered eviÂdence that some buildÂing blocks of DNA, the molÂeÂcule that holds the genetÂic instrucÂtions for life, were likeÂly creÂatÂed in space and then brought to Earth by meteÂorites, leavÂing behind a “kit of ready-made parts” that conÂtributed to the oriÂgin of life. All of this gets spelled out by Dr. Michael CallaÂhan in this video released last week by NASA’s GodÂdard Space Flight CenÂter.
If you still find yourÂself doubtÂing our extraterÂresÂtriÂal oriÂgins, then chew on this more basic fact underÂscored by physiÂcist Lawrence Krauss. We are all starÂdust. Put simÂply, every litÂtle atom in our bodÂies comes from a superÂnoÂva, an explodÂing star…
FolÂlow us on FaceÂbook and TwitÂter, and we’ll delivÂer great culÂture right to your virÂtuÂal doorstep, day in, day out.
OpinÂions are famousÂly mixed on SouthÂern CalÂiÂforÂnia. It has nevÂer been Woody Allen’s kind of place. In Annie Hall, he quipped “I mean, who would want to live in a place where the only culÂturÂal advanÂtage is that you can turn right on a red light.” But this is comÂing from a guy who prefers fog and overÂcast skies to sunÂny days at the beach, someÂone who doesÂn’t quite conÂnect with what has drawn 25 milÂlion peoÂple to the region. Ryan KilÂlackÂey’s short film, “A Day in CalÂiÂforÂnia,” will speak to those resÂiÂdents, or anyÂone who dreams of the SouthÂern CalÂiÂforÂnia life. He worked on the project for a year and a half, and it comÂbines 10,000 images into a seamÂless whole. Learn more about the project or watch the film here.
via @alyssa_milano
Last month, the MariÂachi band, “Los Trovadores de AmerÂiÂca,” played at a wedÂding held at the MysÂtic AquarÂiÂum in StonÂingÂton, ConÂnectiÂcut. Before wrapÂping up, the guys were good enough to serÂeÂnade one of the belÂuÂga whales. And, you know, the sea creaÂture seemed to appreÂciÂate it. Enjoy the weekÂend … H/T @sheerly
A stoÂry appearÂing in July’s StanÂford MagÂaÂzine begins with the capÂtion: “An InterÂnet smear camÂpaign nearÂly destroyed the South KoreÂan star, but he fought back with the only weapon he had: the truth.” And, from there, you’re launched into one of the more flabÂberÂgastÂing stoÂries you’ve read in some time. Give The PerÂseÂcuÂtion of Daniel Lee a read, and you’ll see that we’re not being the least bit hyperÂbolÂic.
The interÂnet can be a wonÂderÂful place. We all know that. But, as with any othÂer place humans inhabÂit, it has a dark side, and that’s what we encounter here…
Back in 2009, the folks at RadiÂoÂLab tackÂled anothÂer big quesÂtion: “What hapÂpens at the moment when we slip from life…to the othÂer side? Is it a moment? If it is, when exactÂly does it hapÂpen? And what hapÂpens afterÂward?”
The show (lisÂten here) inspired filmÂmakÂer Will HoffÂman to shoot a video the medÂiÂtates on the litÂtle moments that give life (and death) their meanÂing. Some moments stand in isoÂlaÂtion. OthÂers moments are conÂnectÂed, creÂatÂing a link between birth and death, cause and effect, beginÂnings and ends. In this audio clip, HoffÂman talks with RadiÂoÂLab co-host Robert KrulÂwich about the vision informÂing the video simÂply called Moments. And, if it delights, don’t miss two othÂer Hoffman/RadioLab proÂducÂtions, one simÂply called Words, the othÂer SymÂmeÂtry.
Back in NovemÂber 2008, just days after the hisÂtoric elecÂtion of Barack ObaÂma, Chris “ShockÂwave” SulÂliÂvan took to the streets of New York City and invitÂed unsusÂpectÂing pedesÂtriÂans to rap with him. The video went online in 2009, but it’s only going viral today. FunÂny how the web works. H/T KotÂtke
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Hey New York, What Song Are You LisÂtenÂing To?
What New YorkÂers Heard on the Radio the Night John Lennon was Shot
What can I say? I’m a suckÂer for these feel-good moments. This past weekÂend, Adam BevÂell, who lost his sight more than two decades ago, attendÂed his 20th U2 conÂcert in Nashville. ThroughÂout the show, he held up a sign that read “Blind GuiÂtar PlayÂer: Bring Me Up!” And evenÂtuÂalÂly Bono took him up on the offer, invitÂing him on stage to strum along to “All I Want is You” and then letÂting him leave with a litÂtle parÂty favor — Bono’s green guiÂtar. A class act.
You can catch Adam talkÂing about his expeÂriÂence and playÂing some more guiÂtar here. And if you like moments like these, then don’t miss this feelin’-groovy moment from Paul Simon’s recent show in ToronÂto.
via @Metafilter
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