CELEBRATIONS ~ We are IN the News!

Since I have written local news for the North Battleford News-Optimist/Regional Optimist, for more than a decade, the "writer within" decided to submit my "First Person Account" of our trip to Calgary to see "Titanic:  The Artifact Exhibition" to the editor for publication.  The article was basically the same as my blog post about this experience.

Yesterday, (Wednesday, June 22), this feature was published.  Due to the postal strike, I have not yet seen a hard copy of the paper, however the story is also in their online edition.

The article is titled, "School Lesson Leads to Titanic Adventure".  The webpage shows the family photo we had taken at the exhibition that I couldn't post here due to technological difficulties.

I'm looking forward to eventually obtaining a copy of the newspaper to add to Alisdair's binder!

COMPUTER FUN ~ How Well Do You Know Your Geography??

How well do you know your World Geography?  Back in 1989, I convocated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major in English and a Minor in Geography, so I thought I knew something about the topic.  But last night, when I was looking online for math games to play with Alisdair to reinforce his numeracy, I discovered I knew a whole lot less than I gave myself credit for.

We found a site called "Cool Math" and, in addition to various puzzles and games to assist pupils with that subject, there were also other things posted.

One of the things we found we several "Snap Maps".  We started with a game featuring the 50 States.  The outline of a state would pop up and you were given four choices to choose from to provide the proper name of that particular shaped piece of the map.  Some were easy (like Hawaii and Alaska), while others (like the New England States) were pretty complicated.

Then we found a "Snap Map" of Canada.  Of course, being Canadian and having such large portions for most of the provinces and territories, we were able to complete the task very quickly.  Next, Alisdair and I decided we should do the map of Europe!  That was a completely different ball game . . . Do you realize how small Litchtenstein really is?  You could hardly click on the tiny green shred representing that country!  And the countries in the Balkans were really difficult to piece together, too.  Slovakia? Croatia? Tricky, indeed!

Like the Canadian map, the one for Australia is also fairly easy.  Then I tried South America and on to Asia... again unbelievably tiny pieces for countries like Oman and Kuwait, or Lebanon and Israel.  You know countries like Laos exist, but where exactly ARE they??  I persevered and eventually got all the pieces snapped in and the clock stopped but the minutes had added up to a ridiculous total.  I didn't even try to do the map of Africa!

This is a website we will be bookmarking as I am sure we can learn a lot more about the world around us if we try to become more familiar with Geography facts.  I'm just glad my old professors weren't around to witness my struggle with the various "Snap Maps."

Try your hand at some of the maps and leave us a comment about how you managed!  Good luck . . .

VIDEOS/BOOK REVIEWS ~ "Silverlicious" ~ By: Victoria Kann

Victoria Kann has a new book hot off the press called "Silverlicious."  It follows in the footsteps of "Pinkalicious" and several other "colourful" books this author has penned.  (See previous blog post ~  "Pink? Purple? Gold? They Are All Delicious ~ February 10, 2011"). We were lucky to get ahold of a copy as it is very much in demand ~ even at the library, with several patrons placing "holds" on the material.  The dustjacket of the copy we received had a blue and white sticker on it, indicating the "Girl Guides of Canada" endorsed the book.

At the beginning of this story, Pinkalicious Pinkerton realizes she has a serious problem.  When she loses a tooth, Pinkalicious is suddenly unable to taste anything sweet.  Candy, cookies, cakes ... they all taste disgusting!  Poor Pinkalicious ... even visits from Edgar Easter Bunny, Carlos Cupid and Elf #351 do not help. Finally Tootheetina (the young girl's own personal tooth fairy) is able to solve the dilemma.  Tootheetina leaves Pinkalicious a note.  It says: "Sweetness comes from the inside.  When you are sweet, the world and all the delicious things in it will be sweet too!"  When Pinkalicious takes this wise advice to heart, she realizes that she has not been very grateful or polite.  On the last page she vows, "From now on I am always going to be as sweet as my sweet tooth." 

This video is a "trailer" for "Silverlicious":



There is also a website devoted to all things Pinkalicious.  Check it out at Think Pinkalicious!  There are e-cards to send, games to play, activity pages to print and colour, and you can even put your own photo into a graphic of Pinkalicious to "pinkafy" yourself (or your little one!)  Isobel loved it!

***

After reading this book, last week Alisdair lost one of his own teeth.  Luckily the molar was NOT his sweet tooth (although I'm not sure he actually has one!)  We did have fun joking about it, though!

HEALTH ~ HEPATITIS 'B' Vaccination Series Completed

The telephone rang.  When I answered, it was the local Public Health Nurse on the other end of the line.  Could Alisdair come over to the clinic for the last of his series of immunizations Saskatchewan students receive in Grade 6?  Reluctantly I made the appointment, as I knew he would be upset.


This was the third time we'd had to meet with her for a Hepatitis 'B' immunization as it is given in three doses.  On one of the first occasions, Alisdair tried to tell the Nurse that he wasn't going to be a drug user and he wasn't going to "sleep with a lot of partners" so therefore he didn't need the shot.

Alisdair was also very concerned about the possibility the vaccines contained "high levels of mercury."  Although she appreciated his knowledge about the reasons for having the shots, the Public Health Nurse didn't "buy" his excuses and neither of us let him off the hook!  She tried to reassure him that she wouldn't have immunized her own daughters, if it wasn't safe to do so.  Regardless, it was a relief to get the procedure over with!

Notice of Immunization

The Public Health Nurse said the next set of booster shots are not until Grade 8 ~ so it's good to know we don't have to go through this again for a while!

In his search to find evidence against getting children vaccinated, Alisdair found this amusing video by Sid the Science Kid called, "It's Gonna Help A Whole Lot," which was made by PBS.  Enjoy!

SKETCH TUESDAY ~ "Something Made with Fabric, Beads or Yarn"

Alisdair's Crazy Quilt

Alisdair glued squares of fabric, that he'd cut from a 5" Charm Square we received at the Manitou Creative Quilters show last weekend, to his "Sketch Tuesday" entry for this week. Who wouldn't want to snuggle up under a crazy quilt like this one?  Too bad it's only made of paper!  The slideshow is smaller than usual this week, which Harmony Art Mom attributed to Spring Break.

Next week's assignment is to sketch something you would see on a playground.  Join the fun!  Email a photo of your picture to sketchtuesday@yahoo.com before 9 p.m. PST on Monday, May 2nd and it will be included in the next slideshow.

VIDEOS ~ Annie Oakley ~ Shooting Demonstration ~ November 1, 1894

We recently borrowed a biography of Annie Oakley, (part of the Step-into-Reading Series), from the library, which sparked our interest in this "Woman of the West."  It's amazing that Thomas Edison managed to capture a shooting demonstration on film.

Isobel was trying to decide who was better with a gun ~ her Stepdad John, or Annie Oakley.  Finally she decided that John was a better sharpshooter, as he was alive, and Annie had died long ago.  While discussing this with her Grandma (over the telephone), Isobel said, "Skeletons can't do very much."

You've got to admit, she does have a point!

SKETCH TUESDAY ~ "Something with a Tail"

The Easter Bunny

If you look very closely, you will see a little white tail on this fanciful rabbit ~ Alisdair's version of the Easter Bunny.

An anonymous commenter, on last week's "Sketch Tuesday" post, suggested Alisdair could draw a book as it would contain a TALE!  Although Alisdair didn't follow through on the pun, we were amused to see  another artist did just that!  Other somewhat unusual interpretations of the theme were some participants who drew kites with long tails and those who drew girls with ponytails!  You can view this week's slideshow here.

The next "Sketch Tuesday" assignment is to draw something that is made with fabric, beads or yarn. This one could inspire real creativity as artists could embellish their drawings with samples of these craft materials.  I look forward to see what Alisdair, and the rest of the artists who enter, come up with.

You can also enjoy participating in "Sketch Tuesday."  Just send an email to sketchtuesday@yahoo.com with a photo of your drawing attached.  Deadline for entries is 9 p.m. PST on Monday, April 25.  See you in the slideshow!

VIDEOS ~ "Mood Indigo" ~ Duke Ellington 1969

EDWARD KENNEDY "DUKE" ELLINGTON (b. April 29, 1899; d. May 24, 1974).  Composer.  Bandleader.  Pianist.  Regarded as the greatest composer in jazz history.  "Duke" Ellington (called "Duke" because of the manner in which he dressed and conducted himself) composed approximately two thousand songs, covering a huge array of genres including ballet, nightclub, motion pictures, live theater, and concert halls.  In 1930 he formed the Duke Ellington orchestra, which became prominent through radio broadcasts and film performances.  During the 1940s he toured with his band both in the United States and in Europe.  Among his most well-known songs are:  "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932), which came alive during the swing era, and "Take the 'A' Train" (1941).  Throughout his career, Ellington won eleven Grammys, was honored with nineteen doctorate degrees, and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and the French Legion of Honor in 1973.  He was truly the duke of jazz.
               ~ Biographical Notes taken from "Ellington was not a Street"  By:  Ntozake Shange

VIDEOS ~ Prime Minister Stephen Harper Sings "IMAGINE" & Causes Controversy

While Alisdair was delivering the Saskatoon Star Phoenix this morning, an article by their columnist, Les Macpherson caught my eye. He writes:

"If nothing else, this lacklustre federal election campaign has convinced me who I absolutely do not want as our prime minister:

Yoko Ono.  Yoko Ono."

"The malicious old harpy set a new standard for campaign meanness by forcing YouTube to pull a video of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper singing Imagine. This she had every legal right to do, having inherited the song's publishing rights from her late husband, John Lennon. That doesn't make it any less mean."

"Harper was touring a Winnipeg school when he performed Imagine, obviously unrehearsed, with fifth-grade student Maria Aragon. It is fine for Ono to stick it in Harper's ear by yanking the video from YouTube, but what about the little girl? How must she have felt when she learned her once-in-a-lifetime experience of performing with Canada's prime minister was expunged from the most popular video-sharing site."

"Yoko Ono doesn't care. If she has to step on a 10-year-old schoolgirl to take a cheap shot at a foreign politician, so be it."

"Protecting copyright was the means here, not the end. This was a deliberate shot from Ono at Harper. Numerous other renditions of Imagine, amateur and professional, are up on YouTube, including one by Bill Clinton, but only this one was removed for copyright reasons. It figures that Ono, a well-known lefty boohoo, would adore Clinton and despise Harper, although their differences are not as great as she might like to, uh, imagine. Clinton is more charming, certainly, but Harper is more respectful of women. You would think a self-proclaimed champion of feminism would appreciate the distinction."

"Ono's selective churlishness over copyright violates the very spirit of Imagine. The song invites us to imagine, among other things, a world of no possessions. Copyright is a kind of possession. By forbidding others from performing the song, Ono not only endorses the notion of personal property, she uses it as a stick to beat on Canada's prime minister."

"And if a 10-year-old girl from Winnipeg gets clipped by the follow through, too bad.
Too bad, as well, that Harper performed Imagine in the first place. It's a terrible song. The melody is fine and the piano riff catchy enough, but these are overwhelmed by the most nauseating lyrics in any pop song ever."

"The aforementioned line about imagining no possessions is especially hard to swallow without provoking the gag reflex. We don't have to imagine no possessions. We've seen it tried in the old Soviet Union. The record shows that it didn't work out very well. But you have to admire Lennon's chutzpah in charging $12 for a record album that urged us to reject capitalism."

"What I don't understand is how Harper, a Conservative prime minister and a tireless proponent of free markets, can bring himself to sing "imagine no possessions." It's as if he's campaigning for the NDP."

"The song also urges us to imagine nothing to kill or die for. But what about freedom?"

"This is something for which many have killed and died, to our great and enduring benefit. Lennon's very freedom to dump on the status quo that treated him so generously was paid for in blood. Imagination manifestly did not get it done."

"Lennon sounds here like one of those silly juvenile idealists who likes to pronounce that violence never solves anything. This is not only wrong, it's stupid. Violence solved Hitler and the Holocaust. Violence solved the institutionalized cruelty of Imperial Japan."

"The violence of the American civil war solved slavery. The threat of violence solved Soviet repression of Eastern Europe. It was not imagined away. To acknowledge this is perhaps too much to expect from a guy who, in the name of peace, stayed in bed for weeks."

"Somewhat easier to imagine is a world with no religion. I'm not very religious myself, so, for me, this is no problem."

"The problem would come about five minutes after religion was eliminated, when someone started a new religion. He'd have a monopoly, too, until someone else launched a competing religion. Then they'd be at it again, hammer and tongs, just as before."

"Lennon wrote and performed so many great songs, it pains me that Imagine, one of his worst efforts, is the one that endures. What I like to imagine is never hearing it again."

lmacpherson@thestarphoenix.com
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

***

When our deliveries were finished, we came home and checked online and found the video, was actually still available. (It's posted above.)

In the words of Lennon's "Imagine" ... "You may say that I'm a dreamer ... but I'm not the only one..." as Alisdair wants to become the Prime Minister of Canada someday. He's already started learning how to make speeches, but obviously we should be finding a music teacher so that he can also learn how to play piano for impromptu photo opportunities while out on the hustings prior to elections!

Just imagine... my son as Prime Minister Ramsay-Mackenzie! Now that WOULD be something to sing about!!

VIDEOS ~ Jesse Owens ~ "This is Your Life" ~ Parts 1 and 2

While searching for information about Jesse Owens, we came across this interesting two-part program.  "This is Your Life" featured Jesse Owens as their special guest on a show in 1960.  Alisdair and I enjoyed watching this old program as neither of us were born when it originally aired.  Jesse Owens seemed very surprised and taken off-guard by the whole experience.  After reading about Owens coaches, (Ridley and Snyder), it was nice to be able to see them! Alisdair was especially intrigued with the now long outmoded technology that Owens was given as prizes ~ it's hard to imagine a time when the antique electronic equipment on the video was actually "state of the art!"

VIDEOS ~ Jesse Owens ~ Berlin Olympics ~ 1936

Alisdair and I recently read the book "Jesse Owens" by Mervyn Kaufman.  It's another "Crowell Biography" like the ones we have studied about Paul Robeson and Ray Charles.

Here is a brief clip of footage of Jesse Owen's 100 metre race at the Olympics in Berlin, Germany in 1936.  He was obviously a very determined young man and well deserving of his Olympic medals.  It's amazing ~ in a personal context, my father was just two years old when Jesse Owens competed in the Olympics and my mother would not be born for another two years. And yet, thanks to early technology, we can witness this historic event!

Owens was the first American Track and Field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympiad.  His record stood for forty-eight years, until Carl Lewis matched Owens' feat at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

***

We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.                                                                                                          ~ Jesse Owens

POSTCROSSING ~ Card #8 ~ Arrives in Dagenham, England

Postcard #8

The postcard we sent to Dagenham, England arrived at its destination awhile back but we've been so busy, we didn't get around to posting about it.  It took 9 days to travel 6,648 kms (or 4,131 miles).  Like Alisdair, Anita is new to Postcrossing, having only been a member for about a month.  Unfortunately the reference number was smudged, on the card, and she had a bit of difficulty getting it registered.  Thanks to some help from the website adminstrators, the problem was eventually sorted out.




Alisdair's next address is a destination in Thailand (this is the second card he's been asked to send to that country.).

Happy Postcrossing!

SKETCH TUESDAY ~ Something You Put in a Fruit Salad

Spotty bananas, an apple, grapes and cherries

It's "Sketch Tuesday" again!  This week's assignment was to draw something that you would put in a fruit salad.  Alisdair tried to paint a cluster of fruit from a watercolour book that we'd borrowed from the library.  He was having difficulties and the paint was all running together and the deadline was looming for submission.  So, he resorted to pencil again this week.  I'm sure next week will be a drawing embelished with either markers or paint as participants are asked to "Sketch something purple!"  Alisdair jokingly said he would do a portrait of his Scottish Granny as purple is her favourite colour and she frequently wears items of clothing or accessories in that shade.

You can watch the slideshow here.  Try not to get too hungry looking at all the delicious fruit!

If you wish to participate in "Sketch Tuesday," simply e-mail a photo of your picture to sketchtuesday@yahoo.com before 9 p.m. on Monday, April 11th.  Once you send the first contribution, you'll be hooked, just like Alisdair was!  Happy sketching ...

VIDEOS ~ Paul Robeson ~ Song #3 ~ "Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho"

We were at the "Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival" today.  Two of the items on the afternoon program were elementary school choirs.  As I watched the children sing, with such energy and excitement, I thought back to my own experience with a school choir ~ we were living in British Columbia so it was some time between Grade 4 and Grade 7.  We sang the song ~ "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" for a school concert.  I had a strong voice, but no one was ever sure (not even myself) whether I was going to be singing soprano or alto or maybe even an octave lower than the rest!  So, the simple solution, was to stand me in the middle of the bleacher, smack dab in the middle of the two sections!

I'm sure you'll agree, Paul Robeson, does a fine rendition of this traditional Spiritual song.

VIDEOS ~ Paul Robeson ~ Song #2 ~ "Loch Lomond"

How could anyone with a Scottish heritage resist Paul Robeson's version of "Loch Lomond?"  He certainly had a bonny bass voice!

VIDEOS ~ Paul Robeson ~ Song #1 ~ "Old Man River" from "Showboat" ~ 1936

Here is Paul Robeson's rendition of "Old Man River" from "Showboat."  It was filmed in 1936.  



Ol' Man River (Jerome Kern - Oscar Hammerstein II)
Lyrics from the Original Libretto

Dare's an ol' man cal'd de Mississipi
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd lek to be
Whot does he care
iv de world gets trauble
Whot does he care iv de land lev's free.

Ol' man river,
Dat ol' man river
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin',
He jes'keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.

He don' plant taters,
He don't plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants'em
is soon forgotten,
But ol'man river,
He jes keeps rollin'along.

You an'me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin' an' racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
You gits a little drunk
An' you lands in jail.

Ah gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man river,
He jes'keeps rolling' along.

[Colored folks work on de Mississippi,
Colored folks work while de white folks play,
Pullin' dose boats from de dawn to sunset,
Gittin' no rest till de judgement day.

Don't look up
An' don't look down,
You don' dast make
De white boss frown.
Bend your knees
An'bow your head,
An' pull date rope
Until you' dead.)

Let me go 'way from the Mississippi,
Let me go 'way from de white man boss;
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan,
Dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross.

O' man river,
Dat ol' man river,
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.

(Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on...)

He don' plant tater,
He don' plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants 'em
Is soon forgotten,
but ol' man river,
He jes' keeps rollin' along.

(Long ol' river keeps hearing dat song).

You an' me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin an' racked wid pain.
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An' you land in jail.

Ah, gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man river,
He jes' keeps rollin' along!

VIDEOS ~ "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around" ~ Sweet Honey In The Rock

This song was featured in the book "Coretta Scott" by Ntozake Shange.  Since I'd never heard this "Civil Rights Anthem," I thought I would look it up and share it as a companion post to the book review, which was posted earlier today, in case others were also unfamiliar with it.

SKETCH TUESDAY ~ "Something With Claws!"

Santa Claus???

I knew Alisdair had a sense of humour, but this character trait is very evident in his contribution for this week's "Sketch Tuesday" assignment!

Participants were asked to "draw something with claws."  As you can see from the slideshow most of the children drew bears, lions, cats, dogs and birds.  But Alisdair had to be funny and play on the "pun" in the words "Claus" and "claws," and so he drew the Jolly Old Elf, himself.  What does it matter that it is March?  St. Nicholas is obviously a "man for all seasons!"

Next Tuesday's assignment is to draw "something that it is an ingredient in a fruit salad."  Join the fun, if you want, and send your sketch to "Harmony Art Mom," at sketchtuesday@yahoo.com, before 9 p.m. PST Monday, April 4th.  All contributions are welcomed!

VIDEOS ~ "Go Down Moses" ~ "The Harlem Gospel Singers"

In one of the library books that we've read recently, it talked about slaves singing, "Go Down Moses."  I wasn't familiar with the song and so decided to look it up.  We found a rousing version of this Spiritual, sung by the "Harlem Gospel Singers," and felt it was worth sharing:

VIDEOS ~ Ray Charles ~ Song #3 ~ "In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)"

This is  LIVE performance from 1963 of the Blues/Jazz tune, "In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)."  It is mostly instrumental but there are some lyrics, which don't begin until approximately mid-way through the video.

In the evening ... In the evening

I said baby, in the evening

It's lonesome... when your lover is not around...