YouTube Symphony

You have most likely heard about this amazing project, where musicians from anywhere in the world were asked to video themselves playing their choice musical instrument and then submit it to this project.

Here is the info: from YouTube:
We called for professionals and amateur musicians of all ages, locations and instruments to audition for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra by submitting a video performance of a new piece written for the occasion by the renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun.

Finalists are selected by a judging panel comprised of the world's most renowned orchestras. Vote for your favorite instrumentalists on YouTube from February 14-22.

Winners are announced on March 2nd and will be invited to travel to New York in April 2009, to participate in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra summit, and play at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.

All the Tan Dun submissions will be compiled into a mashup video which will be premiered on this channel on April 15th.

YOU MUST GO HERE: www.youtube.com/symphony !!!

Come back often and take the time to really enjoy the coolness of this. The power of music, people and Good News! Go ahead...make your day! love, linda

Nick Vujicic, No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

A must watch for everyone...including your children!

Christian the Lion

If you haven't heard of, or seen, the story of Christian the Lion this past week. It is too magical to miss...so grab some tissue and watch!



Click Here for the Full Story!

The Magic of the Ocean's Unicorns!

Was viewing web video on the wild fires in Australia. It is absolutely horrible, and was pondering the amazing force of fire, as I heard the stories of the people who have survived. The reports were on the BBC site, and directly across from the news links, were some nature shorts. I had to share this piece...which gave me peace.

Please enjoy! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7870300.stm

Unity through Diversity - Mural Mosiacs

This is a must see!

"Mural Mosaic" brings together hundreds of individual paintings created by hundreds of artists into one unifying image. Each painting reflects an individual's unique creativity and style. When a painting is completed it is carefully placed in sequence within the mural to assemble one masterpiece.

This link will take you to the newest mural in Cochrane. For those not living in Canada, Cochrane is NW of Calgary and east of Banff, in the foothills of the Rockies. This mural was unveiled last week at the Cochrane Ranch House.

Each tile is 1 foot square, is it's own individual picture and each is by a different artist. All of them together form this huge mural. You can click on each of the tiles to see them in detail.

Check out the horse's eye.

www.muralmosaic.com/Cochrane.html

You know you've had enough of winter when....

Great HA HA from Skip Drew in Milton!

The burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around,
looking for valuables; and when he picked up a CD player to place in his
sack, a strange, disembodied voice echoed from the dark saying, "Jesus is
watching you."

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.
When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as
a bell he heard, "Jesus is watching you." Freaked out, he shined his light
around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the
corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

Did you say that?" he hissed at the parrot. "Yep," the parrot confessed,
and then squawked, "I'm just trying to warn you." The burglar relaxed.
"Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?"

Moses," replied the bird. "Moses?" the burglar laughed. "What kind of
people would name a bird Moses?"

The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler, Jesus."

Shadow Puppets-from Milton to Martha!

This story ran in the Gazette on 1/21 and I had to share it! I know this makes me sound old, but I had to smile when I read it...because it brought back such fun memories of my brother and I kneeling behind a sheet, laughing hysterically as we made finger...and whole body puppets for mom & dad. The other thing is celebrating being 3 years old, no matter how old you look in the mirror. And lastly, to hold on to the reality that even in a crappy economy, dreams do come true!
Read on....


Janesville Gazette: Finding Success in the Shadows by Stacey Vogel Jan 21, 2009

MILTON — When sisters Robin Stephens and Meredith Wolff started their online puppet business, the last thing they expected was to make national television in the first year.

But there Wolff was last week, showing Martha Stewart—the queen of do-it-yourself projects—how to make a polar bear shadow puppet.

Stephens, 31, of Milton and Wolff, 27, of Madison appeared on the Jan. 12 episode of "The Martha Stewart Show" promoting their business, Orange Moon Toys.

The two started the business in April 2008. Wolff designs and creates the shadow puppets with the help of family and friends, and Stephens handles the business end, they said.

"We made toys with our dad growing up, and I played with shadow puppets as a kid," Wolff said. "I guess we were feeling nostalgic."

Wolff creates the puppets from laminated construction paper or cellophane. She has designed 24 sets totaling about 85 puppets ranging from Barack Obama and John McCain to anglerfish and giant squid.

Wolff and Stephens recently released a set of Arctic animals and a set of mythical Thai animals in honor of Stephens' adopted son, Thanu, who hails from Thailand.

Each set includes a fact card to teach children about the puppets. Do-it-yourself kits also are available.

The sisters heard from a producer of "The Martha Stewart Show" in September asking if they wanted to go on the show.

"We were really excited," Stephens said. "It was a really good opportunity."

The process was quick, chaotic and fun, they said. They didn't meet Stewart until the segment filmed Jan. 7 in New York. Dogs were running around backstage for a doggie fashion show after the puppet segment.

Wolff showed Stewart how to make a polar bear while Stephens watched from the audience.

"I'm older, so I got to raise my hand and say, 'Not it!'" Stephens said.

Wolff explained to Stewart that they named the business "Orange Moon Toys" because the moon turns orange from the shadow of the Earth during a total lunar eclipse, creating a giant shadow puppet.

At the end, she presented Stewart with shadow-puppet versions of Stewart's three dogs.

The sisters' Web site has seen a huge increase in hits since the show aired, Stephens said.

"We're hoping that the people who looked at us (online) will remember us when it's time for birthdays and holidays," she said.

And they hope to grow the business in the coming years. They plan to start appearing at craft shows this year and hope the business eventually makes enough money to provide a living for the two.

"By the time it's all done, especially if you're developing new products, it's practically a full-time job," Wolff said.

Joe Cocker Crooked!

Joe Cocker has always been one of my fav guys from the 60's-70's and even still today. Joe was never much to look at, but the energy and soul of his voice and songs always struck me as very cool! When you hear him sing, you're always left wondering what kind of party he'd been to the night before!

Here is a very clever re-write of one of his most famous songs. It is a MUST SEE for all of us from the Woodstock generation!

Jumpin' Joe - Click Here!