depressing iTunes Holiday music
So I was looking on iTunes for classic Christmas music (Rob wasn’t keen on my collection of Holiday tunes by independent artists). And while looking for a cheap copy of something that had Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, a Sleigh Bells, and the Chipmunk Song, iTunes kept recommending its own compilation… Melancholy Winter.
Who wouldn’t be rife with Holiday cheer after listening to soon to be classics “Winter Sadness”, “Cold”, “Dead of Winter”, and “Winter’s Come and Gone”? I’m not sure how the search terms “Bing Crosby” and “Christmas” return “Music to listen to if you hate Christmas, broke up with your boyfriend, and forgot to pay all your bills last month.” But all I can say is that someone at iTunes really really identifies with Ebeneezer Scrooge.
The Dalai Lama has a website
You can hear the Dalai Lama’s teachings via webcast, find out recent news, see pictures and even email him. link
Women influence more than we realize
A new book on the roles of ultra-orthodox women in Israel connected with something I heard at the Open Ed. 2007 conference.
“It is our belief that the changes effected in women’s positions in the home and in community relationships have the potential for working broad modifications in the community as a whole.” -Kalekin-Fishman and Scheneider in Radicals in Spite of Themselves
This sounds a lot like Fred Mednick’s admonition to start with the women when it comes to providing sustainable support to developing cultures. There is something that resonates with me about that. Women are already intricately involved in the lives of their families and their communities. When that involvement reaches outside of their community, their influence can’t help but be felt…particularly as that involvement comes as women take on increasingly visible, well-respected roles.
History of religion in 90 seconds
See a pretty cool demo of how religion has spread over the last several thousand years in 90 seconds
from vodpod.com
Saudi women challenge driving ban
Saudi women are speaking out, saying that whether or not they can drive is not a religious or political issue, it is a social one. And so, there is an organization called “Committee of Demanders of Women’s Right to Drive Cars” who are lobbying for this right for women. In a country rich with natural resources, a strong economy, and robust education system, I would think this would be easily changed, but I understand the issue is likely more complicated than my western woman’s eyes can see. BBC article
