world jukebox

Dec 22nd, 2010 Posted in cultures, music | no comment »

A compilation of favorite songs from different places on the globe.  (Note that many of these are not official videos, but fan-assembled compilations of still images… sorry.  The music is still there though.)

Khumbula (South Africa), “Sibali”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzyFW7mnqKo

Tribalistas (Brazil), “Carnavália”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp7IVMGllUE

Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté (Mali), “Gomni” (also check this one)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtfcSWmBmA

Sara Tavares (Portugal), “One Love” (also check this one)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBpJOIuQ30

Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mexico), “Diablo Rojo”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUibjcu2L_s

Yungchen Lhamo (Tibet), “Happiness Is…”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee58iv63M2A

Tinariwen (Mali), “Amassakoul”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-t6-XY7C7A

Yothu Yindi (Australia), “Tribal Voice”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ-hbpWlXNQ

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan), “Sweet Pain”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVZcPSRqpHk

Ulali (Native American), “Wah Jhi Le Yihm”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WEVtwQnU9w

Angélique Kidjo (Benin), “Babalao”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCWVipbM-aU

Idan Raichel (Israel), “Mima’amakim”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0PWukxRV8U

Rachid Taha (Algeria), “Barra Barra”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUbzX3izyw4

Mediaeval Baebes (UK), “The Snake”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNbL8r96KXc

Keali’i Reichel (Hawaii), “E O Mai”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P88LUs2qAi8

ciudades de oro

Dec 23rd, 2009 Posted in arts, cultures | no comment »

The latest update to the blog software has brought support for embedded Hulu videos.  To celebrate, here’s the pilot episode of one of my favorite childhood cartoons, The Mysterious Cities of Gold.  Enjoy!

random song o’ the moment

Aug 4th, 2009 Posted in cultures, music | no comment »

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA__bM7abhg

“Goye Kur” by Ali Farka Touré, at the 2003 Festival in the Desert in Mali.  You may wish to pick up the DVD and CD of the festival, which has helped raise international awarenes of Tuareg culture.

current affairs bits

Apr 25th, 2009 Posted in cultures, currents | no comment »

A look at the effects of declining Chinese investment in Africa. The Black Scientist Project, which is trying to ascertain why some Black students go on to successful careers in science, while many more do not. Ten things that Major League Baseball won’t tell you. Salon’s Wingnut explains the conservative view of gay marriage. And a 12-year-old girl’s refusal to get married until she’s of age touches off a movement in India.

australia apologized… then what?

Feb 28th, 2009 Posted in cultures, currents | no comment »

My second post on this blog, one year and a couple of weeks ago, was about Australia’s new center-left government issuing an official apology to its Aboriginal peoples for a hundred years of mistreatment.  A quote from that post:

It’s an important symbolic step that was long overdue, but of course it remains to be seen what happens next.

So what did happen next?  Not much.