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January 28, 2014: A special tribute to Pete Seeger…

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 28, 2014

When I went to bed last night, a rumor was circulating on Facebook that Pete Seeger had died. I went where I usually go, out to the larger Internet, to substantiate the rumor, and I couldn’t find anything to prove it was true, so I went to sleep. This morning, Morning Edition confirmed what a sizeable chunk of my FB Friends now know is true.

Pete Seeger, Songwriter and Champion of Folk Music, Dies at 94

My father is largely responsible for my introduction to folk music. Without his reel to reel tape recorder, I wouldn’t have known about Pete, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Phil Ochs, Peter, Paul and Mary, Woody Guthrie or any of the other musicians who made up the fabric of my early childhood.

A search for Pete Seeger on You Tube generates hundreds, if not thousands of links to his work. For me, a visit to the Hudson Valley as a young child (in Woodstock, after THE concert) landed my closest association with the man as I recall sitting on his lap. I also remember watching his series Rainbow Quest on PBS, when they broadcast the series in 1967-68.

[Full movie requires rental from YouTube or other site.]

Last year, I made a point of attending the Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival and I got to thank him again, in person. Didn’t have enough time to say it more than once, but I noticed he was all over that festival. I saw Toshi, once, while we were waiting for the Richie Havens memorial to begin, and I knew then that she was quite ill, but I also saw that he stayed with her until that concert started. Their devotion to each other, for just shy of 70 years, was inspirational.

He remained active right up through this year, but was too ill to attend a parade he helped organize:

Seeger’s dream for King comes true in Beacon; activist had to cancel appearance

So, in the spirit of Twofer Tuesday, in this special edition, have a second cut, with Buffy Sainte-Marie, who I also saw last summer at the festival. Explore the clips on YouTube. And take comfort that the folk movement isn’t dead so long as we pass our values on to the generations to come. After all, that’s how the music remains with us. Pass it on.

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January 24: Frozen (Idina Menzel) ~ Let It Go (Three versions)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 24, 2014

If you’re paying attention to the news, you know the northeast is in a cold snap the likes of which we haven’t seen in 20 years. Don’t go all “Global Warming, huh?” on me, because I’ll quote you all sorts of reasons why climate change is real. And that’s not the point of this post.

No, you’re getting Let It Go for Feel Good Friday this week, because it’s stuck firmly in my head, thanks to the supreme talents of Idina Menzel and song writing team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Tony Award®-winner Robert Lopez.

Seriously. 52 million views since Disney published the clip on December 6, 2013!

But why three? Well, I could have chosen more – folks are posting their own renditions of the song, mash-ups with Wicked (Defying Gravity chief among them), and more. It appears this one struck a chord in ways I haven’t seen since Beauty and the Beast hit the screens in 1991.

So, here’s the original:

And then the same clip, in 25 languages (perfectly timed):

And finally, in the best Disney parody I’ve heard in a while, [NOT safe for work or younger kids but oh, so funny], a tip of the hat to all of us who wish with all our hearts we *could* hit those high notes the way Ms. Menzel does:

Stay warm out there!

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January 22: Zach Sherwin ~ “Goose MCs” (5th Anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 22, 2014

Dancing Wednesday just got a whole lot more surreal.

Okay. Really? YouTube has EVERYTHING, including “A hip-hop ballet honoring Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and the fifth anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson.”

I swear. That’s what the clip says. You’ll find the complete lyrics on the video page.

I’ll probably resort to the classics again next week, but with a continuing accumulation of snow that’s cancelling school a second day in  a row, I have every right to be amused and I just love to share.

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January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day): PBS American Experience ~ Citizen King

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 20, 2014

Citizen King is a two-hour biography of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. produced by WGBH for the PBS series American Experience in honor of Dr. King’s 75th birthday. The original movie aired January 19, 2004. Clicking the link above will bring you to the web page devoted to the movie, including a timeline, teaching materials and more.

The fact is, Citizen King centers around Dr. King, and on what he achieved in just 39 short years. I think it’s a good but incomplete picture. Before you watch the movie, though, I strongly suggest reading this Blog entry from the Daily Kos.

My birth year, 1963, was a turning point in the Civil Rights movement. I grew up in Rochester, NY and had little experience with the southern states until I moved to Maryland in 1986, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have experience with racism. The question is the degree.

I have tried to honor Dr. King’s messages and am glad to have a platform for sharing these important words, so that those who might learn more can remember that we are not done with the search for justice and equality for everyone, but need to work every day to achieve Dr. King’s goal:

We are not so far removed from those days in the 1960s. Not all of us are ready to join hands, though we are much closer than we were.

… when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

I believe we aren’t done with the work and we aren’t all free. Not yet.

On this rare occasion, I’m providing a link to the entire YouTube playlist, so you can watch all 13 parts in sequence if you wish. Each part is roughly nine minutes long. Click the link below to go straight to YouTube to watch.

Citizen King (Parts 1-13) on YouTube on History Monday.

Or you can watch each segment here, on WordPress:

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January 12: Emotional baby! Too cute! (now with Ellen DeGeneres appearance)!

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 12, 2014

Two things struck me the first time I watched this video. The first was how expressive this 10-month old’s face is. Then I got to wondering at how intensely she’s concentrating on her mother’s voice and expressions. She is so moved by the song and delivery that she’s crying. I think it’s all about the connections we make with each other.

We don’t give our children nearly enough credit for their connections to us. Spiritual Sunday is about exploring that sense of wonder and humor and the special spark that we carry. With over 29 million hits, I think this baby girl has struck a chord.

But wait! There’s more!

The whole family appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show shortly after the original video aired. Here’s that link, too!

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January 11: Glaciers Visit Izatys Resort – Mille Lacs Lake, MN

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 11, 2014

A version of this video is circulating right now on Facebook, but it isn’t the original. This one, with over 2 million hits since it was originally posted last May, is the real deal.

The actual term (Ice Heaves) was reported on several stations near the event. Here’s one of the reports, from KSTP.com: Ice Ashore Damages Homes on Mille Lacs.

How does that work? Like this.

Wow.

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January 10: Homeless Veteran Timelapse Transformation

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 10, 2014

Yeah, it’s Feel Good Friday, but I’m getting serious, considering the weather we just suffered this week. And yes, you should feel good at the end of the video.

I first saw this hit my Facebook feed on my birthday last year, and it hit me hard when I took the time to watch. So let me tell my own story:

Back when I still had a full-time job, one of my tasks was to provide opportunities for the homeless to see a show. One day, I encountered a woman who wanted to see the show but managed to miss it because she didn’t understand the calendar very well. The shelter was located right in the same building where we were temporarily housed, and I was on my way to work on the show.

I brought the woman with me, and comped her in. Sure, she sat with the other folks who paid for their tickets, but we weren’t sold out and I thought the meaning of the show was important enough to share with her, even though she was unable to cover the cost of the ticket. And when the show was over, I took her back to her shelter, so she could be indoors for the night (it being December and all).

It wasn’t much. I couldn’t provide her with a permanent fix for her situation, but it was something.

We have so very many people, poorest of the poor, in this country. Most of us avoid looking at their faces or wondering about their stories. Perhaps if we spent a little more time understanding how they got where they were and a little less judging their choices, we’d be better off as a whole in the US.

I know it seems overwhelming to try and help everyone but there are success stories out there. The expression on Jim’s face when he sees himself in the mirror at the end of the process says so much more than words ever could about where he’s been and what his life could be.

If you can’t convince yourself to hand over a dollar for someone who needs help, look for places like Dégagé Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI, that give back to those who need it most.

Watch the video. There but for the grace of…whatever you look to for support. If you have family, if you have the proper meds, if you’re in a financial position that makes it possible for you to afford to be generous, be thankful. There are a lot of folks who aren’t or can’t. Many of them are too ill to save themselves.

[/soapbox]

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January 8: Baby [Cory] Dancing to Beyonce

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 8, 2014

Yes, folks, YouTube can be serious thugs when they want to be.

This is not the original 4 million hit viral video posted by Cory’s family, but then, that’s because we can’t see the original here in the US. So I’m offering this substitute instead. Catch it before YouTube takes it down again.

If this 20-month old can get his grove on, what’s stopping you?

(Oh and? Swallow the drink if you’re one of the five people on my feed who hasn’t seen the video yet. The bouncing is nothing compared to his leg moves. Seriously.)

Next week (maybe) we’ll get into some Baryshnikov moves, but hey! They all have to start somewhere, right?

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January 7: Mr. Mister ~ “Kyrie” and “Broken Wings”

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 7, 2014

Okay, so here we are, at the end of the first week, with our first Twofer Tuesday. I could choose a lot of music — as you’ll see over the next year, my taste is fairly eclectic — but this seems to be a great starting point, both for Epiphany (yesterday was it), and for my spiritual exploration. These songs were part of the soundtrack of my college years.

From here on out, it’s lather, rinse, repeat until December 31. I make no promises that I won’t repeat something from a previous entry. If I do, you ‘ll know just how much I *really* love it.

First up, Kyrie…


And then, Broken Wings.

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January 6: ASK A SLAVE ~ Ep 1: Meet Lizzie Mae

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 6, 2014

I used to say the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask. I’ve revised that line of thinking, thanks to Lizzie Mae.

These first started hitting my feed around the end of last year, and I meant to get to them, but I didn’t, until around mid December when I was already deep in Advent Calendar Land. It’s embarrassing, sitting there, howling all by yourself. I wanted to share with the rest of the world. And now I am. Look for more of these throughout the next few months.

The saddest (most hilarious) part is that these responses are based on real life.

From the credits:

Ask A Slave is a comedy web series based on the actress’ time working as a living history character at [a popular historic site]. Starring Azie Dungey as Lizzie Mae and directed by Jordan Black.
All questions and interactions are based on true events.

Real Questions. Real Comedy.
Learn more @ www.AskASlave.com

Really. People are that insensitive, uneducated and just flat out stupid.

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January 4: The Most Amazing Optical Illusions on the Internet

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 4, 2014

Welcome to Science (and Math) Saturday, and Good Mythical Morning, Episode 260.

The best of the wacky in the Internet, summarized. How many of these have you shared on Facebook?

The “interesting” nature of their webisodes aside, Good Mythical Morning has posted nearly 600 videos, and I can’t fault them. I’m just gathering random stuff from all over. They’re sitting in front of a camera and producing their shows. Deserves a highlight, I’m thinking.

For more on optical illusions, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion

And for more about Good Mythical Morning? http://rhettandlink.com/blog/good-mythical-morning-is-here

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January 3: You Shall Not Pass, Dog

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 3, 2014

It’s the triumph of Canine over Feline (most of the time). And if you don’t swallow the drink, don’t blame me later. Feel Good Friday starts here.

“Uh oh, uh oh. Fluffy…”

Says it all, really. Seriously. Almost 11 million hits since December 5th (less than a month ago). Yep! Them things is pointy!

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January 2: Bea Lillie ~ Faries at the Bottom of My Garden

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 2, 2014

Welcome to Throwback Thursday. It might not be what you expect, but then, where would we be in this world if everything was the way everyone expected?

I ran across this little clip while looking for a reference for a short story. I confess, until I looked her up, I had no idea who Beatrice “Bea” Lillie was, but I thought of Fanny Brice (a sort-of contemporary of Bea’s). Ed Sullivan’s intro is so very typical of his shows, which were among my favorite things to watch.

If you find it difficult to follow the lyrics, you can see the original poem here: http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/fyleman.html

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December 31 (New Year’s Eve): Dan Fogelberg ~ Same Auld Lang Syne and Reverse Times Square

Published by Betsy R. Marks on December 31, 2013

And so the year ends. Seems fitting to finish out 2013 with this bittersweet reminder of the past. It hardly seems possible that Dan Fogelberg has been gone six years, but he has.

And I can’t finish without one last flashmob, particularly fitting considering its setting. Dick Clark’s been gone since 2012, and I don’t watch the ball drop anymore.

2013 was the year I returned to college, the year I lost Marty, Nancy, Craig and more (up to 14 so far this year, of the people I knew). It was the year I moved back into an apartment again, giving up on the American Dream and likely my last chance at home ownership. It was the year I went to the Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival and to Pennsic for the first time.

It was the year I got back to Broadway and saw both Pippin and Lucky Guy. And my college advisor in The Producers (which I hadn’t seen on stage before).

It was the year I proved I could pull a reliable 4.0, and that I could stick to a goal. 367 posts after the start of the year, and plans for another year’s worth of posts, at least.

And it proved to me that I do have a solid grasp on both art and writing. It was the year I finally finished a book, and a short screenplay, and now (soon) a short story.

2014 holds more classes, another possible move, another possible visit to Pennsic (and more photos). It might mean losing more friends to cancer or old age, and it might mean making new friends. Last year, I made whole bunches of connections. Who knows what will come of that.

With friends distributed across three continents and all over North America, from Florida to Alaska, California to Maine, in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Japan and more, it’s been a wild year for everyone I know.

I’m celebrating my 50th New Year’s Eve this year, in a year that just hasn’t felt like a reason to celebrate.  Here’s to the end of 2013 and here’s hoping 2014 is a vast improvement.

Happy New Year, one and all! See you on the 1st!

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December 29: Jeff Dunham ~ Achmed’s “Jingle Bombs”

Published by Betsy R. Marks on December 29, 2013

Welcome to the 365th post!

Totally NSFW & more than a little bit racist, but still funny! I caught a documentary on Jeff Dunham’s work as a ventriloquist and comedian, and I know exactly what I’m posting here. Hurt myself laughing the first time I watched it.

Language is seriously unsafe for work (and questionable for a Sunday posting), but it’s darn funny.

Three days left to 2013. Far as I’m concerned, the year can’t end fast enough.

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December 28: Andy Williams ~ It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Published by Betsy R. Marks on December 28, 2013

Still in the countdown to Epiphany, so for a few more days, you’ll have to live with these. Fortunately, December is almost over, which is great because this has been one hell of a year. Not that I think 2014 will be better, because I don’t think comparing one year to another is actually beneficial, but at least it’s a chance at something new and different.

Andy Williams was one of my childhood staples, if you’ve been paying any attention at all to the selections I’ve made over time. So, while we’re still in the season, something optimistic. We lost Andy last year, but this is the 50th anniversary of the song, so it counts as appropriate for that reason alone.

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December 22 (Three Days to Go): Bruce Springsteen ~ Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (2007) and Burl Ives ~ A Holly Jolly Christmas (MCA Records 1965)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on December 22, 2013

Two Christmas classics I usually associate with Rankin and Bass’ classic animated specials. Only, you can replace Fred Astaire with The Boss on the first of these. With Clarence Clemons as Santa. (Ought to put paid to all that recent Fox News silliness of the last few weeks.) I think it’s my favorite version of this carol.

The second, written by Johnny Marks (no relation to speak of, other than that we’re both Jewish by birth) originated two years after I did. Burl Ives is a perennial favorite and this is the only voice that sounds right singing the song. The video’s a compilation of stills for the season, but if I picked a Rankin & Bass version, it’d be down again before next year. I predict this version will have better staying power.

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December 19 (Six Days to Go): Band Aid ~ Do they Know it’s Christmas (1984)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on December 19, 2013

29 years after the original video made history, this song remains an annual anthem to care for those in need. It also represents some basic assumptions about what we can do as a society to help those less fortunate than we are.

Band Aid wasn’t without its share of controversy. And the video isn’t without copyright issues, either. Annoyingly, YouTube disabled the previous track I’d selected, and it’s likely they’ll do it again when they figure out this one’s been posted, but for every clip they pull, at least one comes up to replace it, so if you try the one I included below and it fails, just search on the name and you’re sure to find it somewhere.

And the moral of that story? No matter how viral the video, someone can still come along and pull it from view. And no matter how many times YouTube disables it, someone will come along to replace the ones that go away.

And while we’re at it, here’s the short documentary that went along with the video. I have the original release on VHS.

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