In The Upper Room: Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson (pronounced /məˈheɪljə/ mə-HAIL-yə; October 26, 1911^[1] – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice,^[2] she was referred to as “The Queen of Gospel”.^[1][3][4] Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world, and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist; entertainer Harry Belafonte called her “the single most powerful black woman in the United States”.^[5] She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen “golds”—million-sellers.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalia_Jackson)

“Marita Please Find Me, I’m Almonst 30”-Leonard Cohen

(An interview Leonard Cohen did on a program called “Mixed Bag” with Pete Fornatale on WNEW-FM in New York.)

I always enjoy listening to the words of wisdom that Leonard Cohen conveys most eloquently in a  anecdotical and sincere manner.

High Sea Pirating – Not Good Business (via France 24 International)

(Click on the pictures to read the article from France 24 International)

Mayor’s Office Postpones The Unveiling of Ai Weiwei’s ‘Zodiac Heads’

(Click on the picture to read more about this)
Also you can more about the sculptor, who’se disappearance enerves many.

Today’s Quotation

 Today’s Quotation

It seems to me that I have always existed and that I possess memories that date back to the Pharaohs.

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) Discuss

In The News: A Classic Fox Hunt Story

Bin Laden Killed in Pakistan by US Forces

On Sunday, US President Barack Obama announced that US forces had killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. For nearly a decade, the US had been pursuing the al-Qaeda leader, whose followers perpetrated the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed some 3,000 people. Many believed he was hiding in the mountainous region along the Afghan-Pakistan border, but he was ultimately found living in a million-dollar compound not far from Pakistan’s capital. World leaders and security experts fear that bin Laden’s death could prompt retaliatory actions and are urging renewed vigilance against attacks. More… Discuss

The Revenge of The Fourty-Seven Ronin

The Revenge of the Forty-Seven Ronin

The Forty-seven Ronin were a group of Japanese samurai who, in 1703, assassinated Lord Kira, the official responsible for the disgrace and consequent seppuku—ritual suicide—of their master, Lord Asano. Though the ronin had followed the precepts of bushido—the samurai code of conduct—by avenging their lord’s death, their actions defied shogunate authority, and they were therefore ordered to commit seppuku. Today, they are regarded as heroes. Why was one of the ronin pardoned? More… Discuss