Music Lovers : Bobby McFerrin & Richard Bona Collaboration

In America we call Nat King Cole “the man with the velvet voice”. Well! If the late Mr. Cole's voice is velvet. Then the voice of Richard Bona is as smooth as silk. He hails from the Cameroon. Whoever thought to pair him up with Bobby McFerrin for a duet was a genius!  McFerrin's voice is satin.  Silk and satin.  You can't beat that! 

Excellent collaboration and stellar performance by two consummate artists. Men who know their music and can share its beauty with the world. Amazing voices.

Medicine Music : Bobby McFerrin (Album)

Dina Lam : Richard Bona (Album Version)

Related or Similar Links:

Gifts for Music Lovers: Duke Ellington Album: Far East Suite

A duke is like a sovereign prince or a nobleman. What an appropriate nickname for him. Calling this man "mister" or "sir" just seems so inadequate and uncomplimentary for one of America's most influential jazz ambassadors. "Ellington was an outstanding composer.

Gifts for Music Lovers: Duke Ellington Album: Far East Suite

A duke is like a sovereign prince or a nobleman. What an appropriate nickname for him. Calling this man "mister" or "sir" just seems so inadequate and uncomplimentary for one of America's most influential jazz ambassadors. "Ellington was an outstanding composer.

Gifts for Music Lovers : Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

"As of 2016, Aretha Franklin still holds the record for the most hits on the Billboard Hot 100 ... she is still on the road and performing in her 74th year." (Even though her doctors advise her to take it easy.) * * Quote source: "FUV Essentials: Aretha Franklin." WFUV.

Gifts for Music Lovers : Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

"As of 2016, Aretha Franklin still holds the record for the most hits on the Billboard Hot 100 ... she is still on the road and performing in her 74th year." (Even though her doctors advise her to take it easy.) * * Quote source: "FUV Essentials: Aretha Franklin." WFUV.

Gifts for Music Lovers: Artists Collaboration | Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville

There are so many male tenors in the entertainment industry and no doubt if one is mentioned by name, somebody will readily respond with an alternative or comparable singer and say ~ Yeah, he's alright but I just love _________. Nevertheless I am going to resort to name-calling because this guy's voice even impressed Linda Ronstadt .

Gifts for Music Lovers: Artists Collaboration | Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville

There are so many male tenors in the entertainment industry and no doubt if one is mentioned by name, somebody will readily respond with an alternative or comparable singer and say ~ Yeah, he's alright but I just love _________. Nevertheless I am going to resort to name-calling because this guy's voice even impressed Linda Ronstadt .

Gifts for Music Lovers: Carlos Santana: Ultimate Guitar Hero

Jingle Jangle Jungle is a fabulous music entertainment blog that publishes interesting tidbits about music, artists and the stories behind them. Per JJJ: " ... the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world's best-known musical signatures. ..."

Gifts for Music Lovers: Carlos Santana: Ultimate Guitar Hero

Jingle Jangle Jungle is a fabulous music entertainment blog that publishes interesting tidbits about music, artists and the stories behind them. Per JJJ: " ... the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world's best-known musical signatures. ..."

Home and Garden Decorating Tips: Wishing Well in Your Own Backyard?

The tradition of the wishing well started in Europe.

Continue reading:  Wishing Well Traditions - Webnuggetz.com

Home Sweet Home : Fancy a Wishing Well in Your Own Backyard?

REF: Wishing Well Tradition - History, Origins, Rituals Water being viewed as the giver of life, the early Celts and Germanic people attached a sacredness to water. A belief developed that any wish made over a source of water would come true.

glitter-graphics.com

Gifts for the Tolkien Enthusiast

Anyone who has done even scant research on John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892 – 1973) knows that even though he was a very private man, there is no shortage of biographical information about this famous British writer and medievalist. Hardcover, paperback, digital and audio books, letters, and other materials abound. 

His son, Christopher Tolkien, was and still is extremely protective of the legacy of his father, and has only ever authorized one official biography. His father is highly respected as a literary hero and a myth maker, and he wants to keep it that way! 

Understandable, however, that did not stop others from publishing their unauthorized unofficial versions. (Even moi! Tried my hand at publishing an unauthorized biographical sketch.) These unapproved life stories (see listing below.) are just as appreciated by Tolkien fans, as the approved biography written by Humphrey Carpenter. 

Tolkien Ted 1280×782 Wallpaper 1117762

Furthermore, the commercialization of “all things Tolkien” may have started with the success of the “Lord of the Rings” books, but when these works were adapted to film, Tolkien fever infected the masses around the world. A loyal Tolkien-ite can not only build their own personal library, but can purchase puzzles, games, collectibles, and more!!

Lord of the Rings Collector Chess Set

– The 32 playing pieces made in fine pewter bear an amazing resemblance to the characters in the film. The top of the board is plexi-glass; the rest of the board is made out of cold cast porcelain. Hero pieces have a green ring around the bottom and villain pieces have a purple ring around the bottom. A map of Middle-earth is mounted below the playing surface.   Board measures 15 x 15 x 4.5 in.

Who would not want to keep this magnificent chess set in the family and treasure it for generations? Is it not the perfect gift for a collector, and an avid chess player who is also a devoted Tolkien follower?

Unauthorized Tolkien Biographies ( Name of Author )

• J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century ( Tom Shippey )
• Tolkien: Man and Myth, a Literary Life ( Joseph Pearce )
• J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend ( Colin Duriez )
• Mythmaker: The Life of J.R.R. Tolkien, Creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings ( Anne E. Neimark )
• J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator (Wayne G. Hammond)

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

— J.R.R. Tolkien

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• Book conceived by JRR Tolkien 100 years ago goes on sale today(scroll.in)

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Like to read autobiographies or biographies to glean inspiration?

Like to read autobiographies or biographies? Reading about the lives of other people has always been a source of inspiration for me and no doubt it is the same way for other people too. In fact, if a person is suffering from depression one of the suggested activities to uplift their spirit and pull them out of the dark black hole is reading life stories. Not trying to sound corny but we are all ordinary people and it is encouraging to know that the majority of us endure the same trials and tribulations and most of us overcome or rise above our difficulties and get on with our lives.

But clearly you do not have to be depressed to draw motivation from reading about the achievements of someone else. For one of my friends it was the life of Malcolm X. The first biography which influenced my life was about Sammy Davis Jr. It was titled Yes I Can. (I could just kick myself for not keeping the book as it is now considered a collectible. He also published a sequel called Why Me?) The first autobiography written by Mr. Davis is also the book that peaked my curiosity and got me interested in reading more and more biographies about anybody – celebrities, men and women in history, people in political circles, etc. Turned this fascination into a hobby and created a Pinterest board called BIO-Snapshots, a collection of trivia, information and articles about people. Some of my most recent pins link to mini-bios of: Nora Baker, Robert Smalls, and Huma Abedin.

Do you get inspired by reading
biographical accounts or personal memoirs?

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Suggested Reads (press play to view)

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The Pack – Art Print Poster
David Cowles
Available at AllPosters.com
and Amazon.com

• David Cowles is a full-time freelance illustrator whose work has appeared in such publications as: Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Fortune, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times. One does not have to convince others that this guy has tremendous talent. If you see an art piece like “The Pack”, you know want to go see some of his other stuff!

David Cowles – Art Posters and Prints

 

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Daily Two Cents is Signing On New Writers - Start Immediately!

UPDATE:  August 31st, 2018, Daily Two Cents site shut down.

Are you a freelance writer looking for a work from home opportunity?  No fee to start?  No deadlines or quotas? 

Look no further.

• Daily Two Cents is looking for writers like you.

The site owners are based in Canada, but the community of writers is global. Good writing skills IN ENGLISH is essential. Start publishing your thoughts, opinions, views, perspectives, book or movie reviews, product recommendations, cooking tips, recipes, share music videos, celebrity tidbits, etc. at dailytwocents.com. 

Daily Two Cents is a revenue-sharing platform. Your earnings are earned based on the number of unique views {pay-per-view} per article. 100 words minimum. If you are an affiliate marketer you can also include a referral link in your content. Earnings you make from affiliate advertising are 100% yours.

• Click here to view my DTC author profile. 

The links below are somewhat of a representative sample of the variety of topics people write about. 

The site set up for social networking so you can also meet and make new friends, if you're interested.

Need some extra income? Try it! 
Donate your “two cents” and get it back!

See sampling of short posts below.

• Chili Seasoning in a Jar – Makes a Great Holiday Gift!


• 3 Quick Tips for Going Vegan


• What is Crocus Sativus?


• North Indian Girl in Southern Films Shriya Saran


• English Empire Folded up within 5 years of World War II


• Muslim Youths have adopted ‘Love Jihad’


• Free keyword research tools


• Thankful That Daily Two Cents Accepts International Writers

What is Religion? (It's a Straight Forward Question with a Straight Forward Answer.)

Two topics they say people should never discuss because it will likely always end in a heated argument: politics and religion. 

- Hard not to discuss politics. The media does a good job of keeping it in your face.

- Hard not to discuss religion. It's close to one's heart. Atheists, wiccans, devout believers all have convictions. The media helps a little. Didn't you hear all those reports about pope Francis?

When it comes to religion, there is a definition that everybody can agree with and should not cause controversy.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1: 27)

How hard can it be to follow this guideline?


Content first shared at myLot.com, Sept 2015.

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Similar content:

Restore Our Religious Freedom (Say what now?)

One World - Multiple Space Colonies 

Who Got Da Power? 

Yeah but … Religion and Refusal both start with the letter 'R' 

Is Turning the Other Cheek Really a Practical Solution? 

Difference Between Politics and Religion

Black Madonna and Child in Art | BAIA

Black Madonnas are found throughout the world. In sculptures, paintings, frescoes, etc. The image below is a fresco of a black Madonna and her child, Jesus, in Axum Cathedral, Ethiopia.

A fresco of a black Madonna and Jesus in Axum Cathedral, Ethiopia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many believe the Templars brought the Black Madonna from Ethiopia. No doubt there are several other fascinating stories and legends circulating. There’s even a cult. If interested here are two suggested books for additional reading:

• The Black Madonna in Latin America and Europe: Tradition and Transformation 
• The Cult of the Black Virgin

There were two men named Joe Cauchi who were both 20th century African-American artists. Very little biographical information is available about either of them. But it has been confirmed that the Black Madonna and Child pictured to the left was produced by Joseph M. Cauchi (born in 1918). The other Cauchi was born in 1905.

[  Black Madonna and Child by Joe Cauchi - Amazon.com ]

The exquisite painting below is by an artist I fancy but I know only by the name Ballenger.  Wish I could say more but like Cauchi, there doesn't seem to be much information about him or her or it (???) on the Internet.  Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.  Nevertheless the artwork is quite lovely and evokes a mood of serenity and calmness.

Black Madonna and Child

Ballenger Art Print

Allposters.com

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Original source link: Black Madonna and Child in Art | Black Art in America Posted by Treathyl FOX on April 11, 2013

You're Wearing That? | Wearable Technology | Tech in Biz

You're wearing that? Uuhh ... yeah! Why not? What are you? Fashion police?? ☺

Where I can see this kind of research and development going or CAN GO, is how great it would be if you had a physical handicap and these devices helped you make up for that deficit.  That may not be the direction they're going, but can't you envision that?

 

If you want to keep up with the tech trends and news, etc., then add Technology in Business to your Google Plus circles.

Artists I Fancy: Alfred Gockel

Alfred Alexander Gockel may have many moods, but I like his "shades".

I ♥ Alfred Gockel Shades of Love.

Shades of Love: Lavender

Shades of Love: Cherry

The art of Alfred Gockel is available at AllPosters.com and Art.com.

The Death Game: Book Review by Chris Longmuir

Found the link below because it was shared in a Writers, Readers, Researchers & Reviewers Group on Facebook.  I prefer historical romance novels myself but the reviewer seemed to be really enthusiastic about this historical mystery.  It has peaked my interest in exploring other historical mysteries.

The Death Game by Chris Longmuir | wendyhjones

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• Book Review - The Mirrored World by Debra Dean
• June Author Interview - Chris Longmuir
• Good Reads: Two Thrillers and One Romance

Murder Mystery Movie Recommendation: "Big Bad Wolves" (2013)

Need a Friday or Saturday night movie pick? 

Big Bad Wolves is an Israeli-produced murder mystery, suspense thriller! The victims were innocent little girls, and the primary suspect is a bible teacher.

Related articles

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• Little Red Hoods & Big Bad Wolves
• Wolves and the Ecology of Fear

Shop Amazon Instant Video -
Watch Trailer - Big Bad Wolves

Summer Bored Checklist via Laurie Turk (Tip Junkie)

Rest and relaxation (R & R) is critical. It is required for the human psyche to be refreshed in order to maintain productivity. But never equate R & R with boredom. That would be a mistake! Here is some sound advice on what to do if you are truly bored.  Sharing a tip from a tip junkie.

Please Entertain Me I'm Bored Mouse Pads by ironydesign
Create a custom mouse mat on zazzle.

Washington Versus Jefferson - RE: French Revolutionary Wars

The fourth of July was just celebrated a couple of days ago but this blog publisher is still on a “patriotic high”, so bear with me and lets continue taking a look back at America's beginnings.  



glitter-graphics.com

The French Revolution occurred between 1789 – 1799.

• The French Revolutionary Wars occurred between 1792 – 1802, overlapping the French Revolution; and Revolutionary France fought two coalitions of European powers.
  • First coalition (organized in 1792) was comprised of Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.
  • Second coalition (organized 1798) included Britain, Russia, Austria, Naples, Portugal and Turkey.
• Despite the opposition, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a military and political leader. From 1799 – 1804, he set himself up as a dictator; and in 1804, proclaimed himself emperor of France.

Meanwhile ... 
 

George Washington was serving as the first president of the United States from 1789 – 1797.  Washington maintained a neutral stance on the French Revolutionary Wars, not deeming them a national priority requiring U.S. involvement. 

Thomas Jefferson opposed this stance and favored strong federal involvement in foreign affairs. It is likely Jefferson had more insight because he served as a minister to France during Washington's presidential term.  Perhaps the first POTUS should have deferred to his judgment.

Who was right?

Click here to participate in the poll.  
Thank you in advance for your VOTE. 

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Happy Birthday America! - Remembering US (Pt 3)

The Whigs, Free-Soilers and Know-Nothing political parties merged their ideals of freedom with others to create a new party that opposed slavery. Abraham Lincoln was a member of that “new” part and became the first Republican president. ...

Read more:

U S History Timeline: After Lincoln, Before Coolidge - Wizzley.com

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• American Presidents | Representing The Whigs
• Abraham Lincoln vs Jefferson Davis - Who was the better leader?

http://foxnet2017.tumblr.com/post/162593733486/frederick-douglass-what-to-the-slave-is-the-4th

Happy Birthday America! - Remembering US (Pt 2)

“The holiday we now know as Presidents' Day which is celebrated the third Monday of February was at one time called George Washington’s Birthday. ...”

Continue reading at:

U S History Timeline: From Washington to Tyler - Wizzley,com

*(3 part blog post)

Follow Cmoneyspinner's HomeBiz Projects's board American Patriot on Pinterest.

Happy Birthday America! - Remembering US (Pt 1)

“Before the Republicans, There Were Whigs”.  Some think this political party should make a comeback!

No More Whigs - HubPages.com 

It's the birthday of the United States of America. Citizens generally celebrate the holiday with a cookout and fireworks. It's also a good day to reflect on some of the history of this country, i.e. how we got to where we are today. Sharing link to an article about one of our political parties. 

*(3 Part blog post)

Related articles

• July is a Popular Month for Independence Days

Difference Between Politics and Religion

Politics and religion. What's the difference?

In case one might think the lines are blurred. They're not!

Continue reading:

Politics Versus Religion: It's About Faith.
- 100 Springs

 


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Movies That Suck With Sequels : The Expendables (2010)

Question. Why is that the movies that you can most assuredly live the rest of your life without ever watching, have sequels??

Continue reading:  Virily.com

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