Archived Arts & Entertainment

Recommended diversions

Kindergarten

The other day I went to a kindergarten class for “Career Day.” I had 15 minutes to talk about cartoons, draw some cartoons, and find out what these 5-year-olds knew about cartoons.

When I was a kid, adults talking about what they did was a very big deal for me. Especially if they enjoyed it. Nothing is more encouraging than seeing people’s eyes light up when they are talking about something they love doing.

These kids were brimming with the love of being 5-year-olds, and I love drawing squiggles that amuse people. We had a GRAND time!

Granted, 15 minutes isn’t very long, but we discovered a mutual love of laughter, and nothing beats getting hugged by a bunch of happy kindergartners! I highly recommend connecting with these children; you might touch one of their minds and start a lifelong fire, and you might get a lesson in loving what you do.

 

“A Concert for George”

If you have anything to do with popular music (performer, appreciator, human being alive on this planet ...) you are more than aware of the impact that the Beatles made on the whole of popular culture.

From the first time that they had a record on the charts, to the way that children today can sing along, the Beatles are still such a vibrant part of the world that the loss of one of them has pan-cultural ramifications.

When George Harrison died, many of his friends, colleagues, family, and fans came together to present a tribute concert — a show so alive with both his music AND his presence, that all of us who couldn’t be there are blessed that it is available on DVD.

“A Concert for George” is an amazing documentation of that event.

Buy it or rent it, hook up your DVD player to your stereo, turn it up, and sit back.

From beautiful and inspired renditions of some of his best songs to interviews with the music giants that he touched and influenced, you can’t help but be touched by our loss, as well as the gain of having had him in the world.

I am a drummer and played in a Beatles tribute band for a couple of years, but I always liked George best. Sorry, Ringo.

 

Bob Ross

The thing about drawing cartoons that most satisfies my soul is taking a blank piece of paper, and with a few lines, creating a little world.

I stumbled upon Bob Ross’ painting show on PBS years ago. For those of you unfamiliar with Bob, he takes a blank canvas and talks you gently through the process of creating a little world, a look into a slice of life that was NOT there before.

Bob is no longer with us, but his show lives on in reruns and DVDs.

I am continually amazed at how, with a few different brushes, a palette of basic colors, and the simplest of strokes, a very real window on the natural world opens up before your eyes.

Bob is the most compelling argument I’ve seen for an intelligence behind the design.

— By David Cohen

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