p.s. Lookout — I figured how to create my own YouTube channel.
Showing posts with label YouTube. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YouTube. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
these drawers were made for playing
Every home office should have one — or two — cats in file drawers.
p.s. Lookout — I figured how to create my own YouTube channel.
p.s. Lookout — I figured how to create my own YouTube channel.
Monday, April 18, 2011
who do you Brits think you are?
Who Do You Think You Are? may have finished its latest run of shows, but that doesn't mean that the amateur genealogist has to go without. Imagine how happy I was to discover that my love for actor David Suchet, best known for his portrayal of Agatha Christie's famous Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, and my interest in genealogy was combined in an episode from the British version of the series. I have loved watching the first two seasons of the American series, which it turns out is actually an offshoot of the British original, which originated in 2004 (and is still producing new episodes). Why am I not surprised — all the best television ideas seem to come from across the pond.
Suchet found out the real source of his last name (not French, as he had been told) and travelled to England, France and the Ukraine. Thankfully, all of the episode, in six parts, can be watched on YouTube. Now that I've started watching the British version of the show, I can't stop. Other favorites I have queued up include Stephen Fry and David Tennant (both can also be watched on YouTube). The episodes I've watched have been narrated by British actor Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Stardust, Robin Hood).
Stephen Fry, as you might expect, was quite amusing in his episode. He was delighted to discover an ancestor, one of the "amazing Prings" was a pauper inmate in a London workhouse. His reaction? "How Dickensian!" Fry had always been told that on his mother's side of the family, Jewish relatives were "killed by Hitler." This proved to be true, and he took an amazing emotional journey to Vienna and beyond to discover how tragic his relative's stories were.
My favorite Dr. Who, David Tennant, was initially also a bit surprising — to my ears — as I got used to his Scottish accent. Tennant knew next to nothing about his ancestors. He discovered a star athlete and a beauty queen and travelled from the Lowlands of Scotland to the Highlands. His quest also took him to Ireland, where he found it quite difficult at first to learn about his ancestor's involvement in "the troubles," Bloody Sunday, gerrymandering and poll-rigging.
Who Do You Think You Are is always an interesting history lesson. People find out not only about their relatives, but their relatives' part in history. I'm looking forward to digging up some more of these shows, and learning more as well. Zoë Wanamaker, Patsy Kensit, Robert Lindsay, and Graham Norton's shows all seem available. Hopefully more will be put up on YouTube or become available on DVD, as some of my favorites have also done episodes — Alan Cumming, John Hurt, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Nigella Lawson.
It was a little strange for me at first, just getting used to listening to Suchet in his own voice, own accent. I'm so used to the precise inflections he uses and slight accent for Poirot. It was amusing watching him realize that like his signature role, he would have to go on the trail for clues. At one point he was laughing as he pulled on white gloves to examine some old documents, "How many times have I done this before?" Of course this time, it's for some information that will directly affect him and his family.
Stephen Fry, as you might expect, was quite amusing in his episode. He was delighted to discover an ancestor, one of the "amazing Prings" was a pauper inmate in a London workhouse. His reaction? "How Dickensian!" Fry had always been told that on his mother's side of the family, Jewish relatives were "killed by Hitler." This proved to be true, and he took an amazing emotional journey to Vienna and beyond to discover how tragic his relative's stories were.
My favorite Dr. Who, David Tennant, was initially also a bit surprising — to my ears — as I got used to his Scottish accent. Tennant knew next to nothing about his ancestors. He discovered a star athlete and a beauty queen and travelled from the Lowlands of Scotland to the Highlands. His quest also took him to Ireland, where he found it quite difficult at first to learn about his ancestor's involvement in "the troubles," Bloody Sunday, gerrymandering and poll-rigging.
Who Do You Think You Are is always an interesting history lesson. People find out not only about their relatives, but their relatives' part in history. I'm looking forward to digging up some more of these shows, and learning more as well. Zoë Wanamaker, Patsy Kensit, Robert Lindsay, and Graham Norton's shows all seem available. Hopefully more will be put up on YouTube or become available on DVD, as some of my favorites have also done episodes — Alan Cumming, John Hurt, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Nigella Lawson.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
rich girl throughout history
This tune has been going around and around in my head lately. Guess I'm in the mood for some blue-eyed soul and nobody does that better than Daryl Hall. When I hear this song it reminds me of being a kid and singing along while sitting in the back seat of the family car, probaby a Chevy Citation at the time, hoping my dad wasn't paying too close attention to the lyrics and wouldn't turn the dial to another radio station when Daryl sang, "It's a bitch, girl."
Looking around on YouTube, there are many versions to be unearthed. The pop music archeologist can discover an 80s version of the song, complete with Miami Vice-style ice cream-colored suits. But VH1 must have kiboshed the "bitch" lyric, as Daryl was forced to sing, "rich girl" over and over. It was just a few years later than this 1977 performance, but political correctness was the norm. Sigh. VH1, you know money, money won't get you too far, get you too far. Daryl still had a bitchin' voice, however.
Digging a little deeper, there's also another live version, circa 1985. It's from an outdoor Liberty Island concert, with the Twin Towers visible in the background. Daryl's mutton chops are beyond impressive, here, as is his voice. I also found one from 2003, a studio concert originally aired on A&E. I love this man's voice. And finally, the most recent version, carbon-dated from 2008, is a shaky fan video. But there they are, Daryl still standing and singing at the keyboards, Hall on his left, still great, still having fun. A video timeline.
Visiting some other related sites and excavations, I was happy to discover that more of Daryl and his music can be found on his monthly webcast, Live from Daryl's House, where one can study Daryl's fellow musicians, guests and friends, including Todd Rundgren. And listen to some great music, of course.
Digging a little deeper, there's also another live version, circa 1985. It's from an outdoor Liberty Island concert, with the Twin Towers visible in the background. Daryl's mutton chops are beyond impressive, here, as is his voice. I also found one from 2003, a studio concert originally aired on A&E. I love this man's voice. And finally, the most recent version, carbon-dated from 2008, is a shaky fan video. But there they are, Daryl still standing and singing at the keyboards, Hall on his left, still great, still having fun. A video timeline.
Visiting some other related sites and excavations, I was happy to discover that more of Daryl and his music can be found on his monthly webcast, Live from Daryl's House, where one can study Daryl's fellow musicians, guests and friends, including Todd Rundgren. And listen to some great music, of course.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
are you kidding me?
I just watched Katy and Elmo's risque Sesame Street performance on YouTube - with my six year old daughter. This isn't provocative. It didn't need to be pulled from broadcast. It's cute and silly. Just like Elmo, jut like Katy Perry.
I don't even have it in me to write a full-scale rant because the whole "issue" is so ridiculous. What does bother me is that there are "parents" who can censor public television. Luckily, the internet and YouTube are around, so it isn't truly censored. But shame on you, PBS for buckling under to a bunch of prudes who think they know better. By the way, Miss Piggy used to show WAY more cleavage than Katy Perry.
I don't even have it in me to write a full-scale rant because the whole "issue" is so ridiculous. What does bother me is that there are "parents" who can censor public television. Luckily, the internet and YouTube are around, so it isn't truly censored. But shame on you, PBS for buckling under to a bunch of prudes who think they know better. By the way, Miss Piggy used to show WAY more cleavage than Katy Perry.
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