Watched Hava Nagila (The Movie). Anyone else ever seen this documentary? I really enjoyed it. Had no idea that "Hava Nagila," which was popular enough when I was young to go mainstream, began as a nigun in the Ukraine.

Reflections of immortality? Personal expression? Scam? Challenge? Looks at street art, rock art and possible meanings.

If you speak some German, you might find this video made by Germans about the families streaming into the country interesting. Here is one made for German school kids. And another, angling on families.

Talking about how they converse with each other.

Reprise on bricolage, after a bunch of related discussions online and at cons. Plus mentions of a couple books, including Andrea K. Höst's new release.

If you have fifteen minutes, do not miss this terrific essay by Alice Munro.

Really. Read it all the way to the end.

gillpolack has been hosting essays all month, finishing up with this one from writer/historian Kari Sperring.

Via paulakate, check this out!

I love this sort of thing. If anyone knows of others, link away!

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We vow not to use these powers to oppress any person, but to regain the independence of the nation, and to strengthen universal liberties.Sounds stirring! And which American patriot made that vow? Well, many of them might have made similar vows, (most of them verbally or mentally excepting slaves), but the person who vowed it meant it to stand for ( Read more... )