organise the bookmarks in my web browsers, and share the ones that may be of interest to others

http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1936

This is an extraordinarily compelling documentary on the relationship, history and diplomatic struggles between Iran and the “Western” countries – stunning interviews and revelations (particularly in part 3), and so much information that never got into the news (such as how much help Iran gave the US in Afghanistan). (Faustus, if you watch this, let me know what you think? :) ) I don’t like that they glossed over the 1953 coup d’état by the British and American governments, and wonder why they chose to skip over Iran-Contra – but it still presents an incredible amount of information that adds so much to the story of Iran told in much of the Western media.

http://www.tokyomango.com/tokyo_mango/2009/07/children-full-of-life-a-moving-documentary-about-kids-sharing-emotions-in-school.html

http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeyemonday/feature_270904.html

“In the award-winning documentary Children Full of Life, a fourth-grade class in a primary school in Kanazawa, northwest of Tokyo, learn lessons about compassion from their homeroom teacher, Toshiro Kanamori. He instructs each to write their true inner feelings in a letter, and read it aloud in front of the class. By sharing their lives, the children begin to realize the importance of caring for their classmates.

Capturing the intimate moments of the students’ laughter and tears, the film explores one teacher’s approach to allowing children the opportunity to discover the value of sharing powerful emotions. Classroom discussions include difficult issues such as the death of a parent or being the victim of bullying. In this “school of life,” the simple message is learning to look after one another.”

This is a documentary really worth watching. If our world is going to change for the better, ultimately it all starts from the children – and the teaching of empathy and emotional intelligence.

You may want to watch it before someone takes it off Youtube – and as the Metafilter post I got this from says, you may want to keep tissues handy.

Probably what the world needs more than anything: good parents and good teachers.

http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

I wish society saw creativity more like this.

Incidentally, apparently the etymology of olé may be wrong – the rest of her point stands though.

pretty much the funniest thing ever. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

I’m not really a fan of the song (though I really like the lyrics) – but the video is so creative and gorgeous. I wish it ended about 5 seconds earlier – but this kind of creativity and storytelling is what the music video should be for.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7811686.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/05/german-children-elope-mika-annabel

Everyone has probably seen it – cos it’s so damn adooooooooooorable :D

But then I got to thinking – what if it were two boys? Will we one day find it just as sweet and adorable?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bZw9FmXZ4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4u2ZsoYWwJA

Louis C.K. is the most naturally funny living standup comedian I know, alongside Daniel Kitson. I don’t like all of Louis C.K.’s work – just as I don’t like all of Kitson’s work – but this is very, very funny. The video starts off slow – it gets better! (the goodness starts around 1:30 :) )

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=e0OCeNB4n-k

Or, this? :D

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jRapCTGIlJA

(I love and miss Smack The Pony.)

This is really something:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_angry_crowds;_ylt=AvGjep5w2EiVKiQjLm5sHZlh24cA