The best thing to come from streaming video, is the ability to watch thousands of documentaries you would never have come across otherwise. I have fallen in love with documentaries, specifically, the brilliance of them.
Documentaries not only tell you The Story, they tell you the story before, after, and the million of things that nobody knew were going on DURING the story. Ita's not just enough to know the facts of a story. For me, once I hear a story, I have questions. LOTS of them. Documentaries satisfy my questions and often lead to new questions about new topics that I have yet to explore. They are my idea of a cerebral Pandora Box.
I now have more documentaries in my streaming queue than I do movies. I am in heaven. I also can't seem to watch one without also getting online to crosscheck facts or names and will spend HOURS searching through pages of information.
History is always my favorite topic. Although, I have begun to watch a lot of social issue documentaries, which I am learning a lot from. I am currently watching, "Earth Days" which talk about the enviromental movement and the conservation movement. I recently watched, "Tapped", about the earth's water supply and bottled water industry. This one is s must....I will never buy bottled water again. "Stranded" is about the Uraguayan Rugby team whose plane went down in the Andes and left them lost and dying. Nothing is more moving than listening to the survivors tell their story. I could think of nothing else but their story for weeks after watching. "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead", was a great one and very heartwarming. I am about to watch Ken Burns, "National Parks" again. I am completely smitten by this particular series. I now want to visit every major national park during my lifetime. This is a goal I am serious about accomplishing.
My documentary list is increasing my reading list So I am off to get lost in yet another story...
Monday, September 5, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
ThingsAWoman Should Have
"A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own even if she ever wants
to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,
AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year..."
— Pamela Redmond Satran
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own even if she ever wants
to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,
AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year..."
— Pamela Redmond Satran
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Happy Spring!
The Crone has sighed and passed us by.
The Maiden blushes near,
In Grain and Fruit that bursts with life,
And the turning of the year.
We hear you on the whispering winds,
We see you in the flower,
This maiden of light, she now descends
To bless us with her power.
Lady of blossoms, of field and hearth,
We celebrate your youth,
Be with us as your fertile Earth
Brings forth a life renewed.
I am soooo happy it's Spring!!
The Maiden blushes near,
In Grain and Fruit that bursts with life,
And the turning of the year.
We hear you on the whispering winds,
We see you in the flower,
This maiden of light, she now descends
To bless us with her power.
Lady of blossoms, of field and hearth,
We celebrate your youth,
Be with us as your fertile Earth
Brings forth a life renewed.
I am soooo happy it's Spring!!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Warrior Women
"We are the riders, our business is with the bow and spear, and we know nothing of woman's work." - Herodotus, 5th Century
Warrior women are such an interesting part of history and culture. I got a kick today out of watching a PBS doumentary about Amazon Warrior Women. In the documentary, an archeologist, Jeannine Davis-Kimball, tries to find evidence that certain bones and burials found in southern Russia are in fact nomadic women warriors. They are able to determine that DNA from 2500 years ago is such a culture. Davis-Kimball's extensive research shows that a lot of the women remains from that region were also taller than average and blonde. Towards the end of the documentary, Davis-Kimball comes across a nomadic group of women in Mongolia who are setting up their winter yert. As she greets the women, she notices a 9 year old Mongolian girl with blonde hair, highly unusual in Mongolian culture. Intrigued, she watches the young girl, who does not resemble her siblings very much, and asks to test her DNA. Shockingly the young girl's DNA is almost an exact match to one of the 2500 year old women buried in Russia. It's proof that a warrior women culture not only exsisted but that there is a blood line still thriving. Very cool stuff.
Most of my heroes, modern and historical, are women. I find a strength and resilience in them that honestly I don't find in most men. A woman's instinct to survive and protect is unmeasurable. I look to Queen Boudica, who lead her people after her husband died, fighting the Romans out of England for several years before being supressed. Queen Artemesia, who had many tales of war and conquest and was a member of Persian Great King Xerxes' multinational invading force. Very impressive if you know anything about King Xerxes! The Trung Sisters from Vietnam who rallied an army of 80,000 against China. They taught 36 women to be Generals and were successful for 3 years. China eventually took the country back and the Trung sisters committed suicide rather than relinquish. These and many other warrior women show a spirit that is/was determined and based on the survival of their community rather than their personal gain. They were brilliant women, resourceful women, strong, courageous and a force to be reckoned with.
All qualities I aspire to.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Chanteuse
I love my Sony Mp3 player. I also love scavenging through music of all kinds to put on said player. Often I get on tangents looking for musicians of a certain style or those who have been influenced by other musicians I adore. I especially enjoy hearing the influences without direct imitation.
I recently ran across the lovely, Melody Gardot. She has a rich, voluminous sound that is sensual, cheeky, bright and full. I heard one snippet and within 5 minutes had downloaded all her music. She brushes through jazz, bossa nova (a personal fav), new standards and caberet torch songs yet all of her songs are fresh and have their own energy and cadence. She is haunting, which I find unusual for someone in her mid twenties. Her songs carry a melancholy due to a horrific car accident she survived. She broke her pelvis and many other bones and while relearning how to do everything from brushing her teeth to eating to reading and writing, she turned to music as a kind of therapy. Since rediscovering her abilities, she has stirved to bring awareness to musical therapy. Very interesting lady. Ms. Gardot is deliciously saucy and worth listening to...over and over and over again.
Take a listen www.last.fm/music/Melody+Gardot (you can listen to the entire collection along with videos or stills)
I recently ran across the lovely, Melody Gardot. She has a rich, voluminous sound that is sensual, cheeky, bright and full. I heard one snippet and within 5 minutes had downloaded all her music. She brushes through jazz, bossa nova (a personal fav), new standards and caberet torch songs yet all of her songs are fresh and have their own energy and cadence. She is haunting, which I find unusual for someone in her mid twenties. Her songs carry a melancholy due to a horrific car accident she survived. She broke her pelvis and many other bones and while relearning how to do everything from brushing her teeth to eating to reading and writing, she turned to music as a kind of therapy. Since rediscovering her abilities, she has stirved to bring awareness to musical therapy. Very interesting lady. Ms. Gardot is deliciously saucy and worth listening to...over and over and over again.
Take a listen www.last.fm/music/Melody+Gardot (you can listen to the entire collection along with videos or stills)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
bare
I thought there were only two sides to every coin but everytime I flip mine it lands on an entirely new scene. No constancy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
