Douglas Howe: July 2008 Archives

Almost 40 years ago, some unbelievable events happened that, thanks to current technology, are now being broadcast to millions of people around the world. You'll find this video to be as heartwarming as it is inspiring, reminiscent of rare privileges of a past time and an even rarer moment between humans and animals.

In this case, the guys are a couple of animal-loving blokes from Australia, and the main character is "Christian the Lion."

A generation ago, it was still legal to purchase exotic animals, which John Rendall and Ace Bourke did in an auction at Harrods. After using a small church yard to help the cub exercise, Christian grew to being much too large for it. With the help of wildlife conservationist George Adamson, the two men took Christian to Africa to help him prepare to be released into the wild.

The spirit of Bob Dylan, Johnny Carson and political cartoonists everywhere is alive and well in the newest (and best) political satire entertainment on the web.

The folks at Jib Jab have again risen to the challenge of creating political satire that is as entertaining as it is offensive, making fun of both sides while sparing jabs at no one. Such is the beauty of equal-opportunity-well-done political satire. Excellence is inspiring, and humor brings levity. This is full of both!

The Dylanesque take-off serves as the theme song, "It's Time for Some Campaignin'" (And the musicians are actually really good!) Through the rhythmic verses and powerful refrain we hear several highlights that could only be uttered in this kind of piece, including:

There's still a little bit of summer left, and if you can I encourage you to get out to a John Mellencamp concert, for at least three reasons.

First, you won't believe how many of his songs you'll know, and love, or both. Second, it's pure energy--we never sat down and he never said "Hello, Cincinnati!" He just goes and goes and you'll just dance and dance, until the encore is done and you'll wonder where the night went.

And, third, not since Bruce Springsteen has anyone figured out how to put on an inspirational high energy show amidst very dark and discouraged political rhetoric. I'm not an Obama guy like those who were all around me, but it didn't matter, as Mellencamp found that exact balance of conviction without preachiness, candor without dragging the show into the ground.

And this will be what his career is about in the near future. "I am trying to make the transition from rock star to songwriter in public," he said to the Associated Press this week. He went on to say how down he is about our American situation:

Stop the Presses! It's headline time! Can you believe it?! Fuggettaboutit!

USA Today ran two front page stories this week that--get this--involved no controversy, no negativity, no gossip, no political banter, no victims or villains and no one breaking the law!

Summer is a good time for books and book reviews, but I travel a lot and USA Today often passes for my summer reading. And this week, they get kudos for turning around the typical newspaper trend towards negativity and tabloid-like headlines.

First came a cover story about those who are giving their lives (in large chunks) to make a difference in the world. The story of Tom and Lori Wheeler's trek--they gave up their suburban jobs to serve in Darfur for at least a year--made the front page above the fold.

One of the most inspiring people, who wrote one of the most inspiring books, as taken from one of the most inspiring lectures (now you've guessed him, right?) has passed away from pancreatic cancer. Neil should add him to the list of those "Done Too Soon," but this may well be one of the most documented and defined cases of someone's last days being cause for greater impact and purposefulness.

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch gave his last lecture at the university on September 18, 2007. It became a YouTube phenomenon and you can watch it here.

The message is pretty simple: how to achieve your childhood dreams and help others do the same. Ah, the beauty and simplicity that many of us long for. And the sublime pleasantness of it increases with the knowledge that he didn't originally mean for it to have a large public profile. His main purpose was to write the book (and give the lecture) for his three kids.

If the candidates' shticks and the talk shows are boring you, why not spice up your election season--and start some smart conversations with those you love--by buying or renting one of my Top Five Election DVDs of All-Time. With respect...

We've talked about Oprah here before, but we're not in Nielson-ratings-land anymore, Toto, at least according to posts being circled and forwarded about the popular talk-show host and media entrepreneur. "One of the most effective proselytizers drawing Christians away from...

We were Staycationers this past July 4 weekend, and tried something we hadn't in a long time: we went looking for TV options, flipping the remote a little more than we'd care to and being mostly disappointed with what we...

If you want to save money on gas, money on tickets and even more money on popcorn and drinks at theater prices, the July 4th weekend is a great weekend to check out some of the great movies that carry...