It was from the program at the following link that I first learned about
Green Porno, which absolutely wonderful and (
for me) really funny and fascinating series I posted about here awhile ago. I just came upon this
Sunday Morning segment again by chance a few moments ago, and was super happy to come upon it being offered available for free, online.
(And no, it isn’t at all related to Kiva or to KivaFriends, except to the extent that it’s about sharing and learning and a kind of giving, which one might suggest is commonality enough).
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7362663n&tag=re1.channelThe now several years-long habit of my wanting to share with you and of wishing that you, who are happy enough to read other people’s posts, were wanting and willing to do your own parts of finding and sharing and keeping this community going (and of trying to keep it vibrant and vital and interesting to a whole range of people with happily varying backgrounds and interests) (and that second wish, in spite of way too much evidence to the contrary), well, apparently, those habits die very very hard.
The following, being only one person’s (my) perspective, and so, as one person’s perspective, I’d offer, is neither inherently right but neither/nor is it inherently wrong:
To the KivaFriends Forum and Community That Could Have Been***, R.I.P.
***The way I saw it, that “could have been” was totally irrespective and could have been, if enough people had cared to nourish and sustain and grow the community, it could and would have been irrespective of and absolutely unrelated to the “evolution” (or devolution) of Kiva, itself, and to the slow but obvious growing away from and sometimes disenchantment with Kiva that too many once faithful members of this community, including myself, have clearly, sadly, and, in many cases, incredibly reluctantly and “resistingly” experienced.
Take care, you guys.
And peace and joy and hope and learning to all.
Jill--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT: Of course, and
just in case…..
1) People here are going to differ about this as I, sometimes, differ with this human rights writer whom I greatly admire, Nick Kristof. With the sentiments he expressed in this particular column entitled, “
Is Israel Its Own Worst Enemy,” I find myself very much in sad, worried and actually, very fearful agreement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/opinion/kristof-is-israel-its-own-worst-enemy.html2)
http://www.takepart.com/video/poverty%E2%80%99s-worst-enemy-bunker-roy-and-barefoot-collegehttp://www.barefootcollege.org/3)
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/05/141083711/rev-fred-shuttlesworth-civil-rights-pioneer-dies(
Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth died on the same day that Steve Jobs did. I first learned about this man’s almost superhuman courage and conviction to remain nonviolent in one of the most deeply affecting books this inveterate booklover has ever read. It was called, Freedom’s Children, and I recommended it long ago in the Book thread).
4)
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/the-last-great-plant-hunt-the-story-of-the-millennium-seed-bank/245508/?google_editors_picks=true
http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_drori_why_we_re_storing_billions_of_seeds.htmlhttp://www.ted.com/speakers/jonathan_drori.html5)
http://www.takepart.com/photos/toy-guns-war-zones6)
http://www.uphaa.com/blog/index.php/food-dress-designs/7)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/04/why-do-gay-penguins-make-people-so-mad-tango-tops-banned-books-list-again.html(Thoroughly curious, after reading about all the hoopla surrounding this book about penguins and well, yes, just a little bit more, I ordered it. I ordered it as I ordered another book I hadn’t known existed,
William’s Doll, until I saw it listed on the Amazon page that was advertising
Tango. The reason I ordered William’s Doll was because of this (
for me) really great video I’d come across and posted in the “Music That Isn’t” thread, so, I was curious to see it, too). Anyway, fyi,
And Tango Makes 3 is a book I can confidently say would be engaging to a whole lot of you, with your sexual persuasion having nothing to do with it).
8-
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/07/entertainment/la-et-thunder-soul-20111007 http://thundersoulmovie.com/9) More on
El Sistema:
El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music – 60 Minutes –
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4011959nGustavo Dudamel’s Musical Mission – 60 Minutes – Beautiful Kids – YOLA
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6490456nJosé Antonio Abreu’s TED Talk On Kids Transformed By Music
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jose_abreu_on_kids_transformed_by_music.html(I don’t know how anyone could watch this talk, learn about this giant heart, and not fall absolutely in awe and inexpressible admiration for José Antonio Abreu).http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/11/60minutes/main4009335.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody(This one has the same video as the first of the two “60 Minutes” videos, just above, but it also has the transcription of what was said in the program. If you don’t go to this particular link for any other reason, think about going for the purpose of reading some of the comments that were posted to the story. It truly sounds like a revolution, at least a would-be revolution, is in the making for how many people seem to have responded to the concept and story of El Sistema, heart-and-hope-and-having-it-resonate-in-one’s-being-wise, similarly to the way that I did).10) I suppose I’d better stop. Maybe needless to say, I had these and a whole bunch of other things stockpiled in the event I
might sometime come back here.
And….
just in case I finally am successful in finding someone who will either tie me down or lock me in a closet or do whatever it might take to keep me from returning here where I’m thinking more people than not may well be either yawning, growling or just ignoring, completely, I’m giving you advanced warning, either way, that if I end up taking a trip I’m seriously thinking of taking next year to visit Irene and Florence, there’s some fair possibility I’ll come back here, after.
That is, there’s a fair possibility but no promise (or
threat that) I’d stop by if even it’s only to post a link to a some trip blog or something. If I did, it would only be out of my feeling of what’s been terrific gratefulness and respect for those (for me, rather surprisingly few) who remained steadfast and caring toward these two African women whom, thanks to Kiva and KivaFriends, I learned to consider as my friends and to care very very much about.
That’s it.
Take care.
