#alivelez

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The Kids - The SNL Sketch You DIDN'T See This Weekend

The internet can sometimes be a TV graveyard, where largely unseen (and often unwatchable) TV clips go to die. Sometimes, though it can be a treasure trove of digital exclusives from your favorite shows, like this sketch that was cut, for whatever reason, from this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Jim Carrey. The episode itself was pretty uneven, with some pretty fun bits like this Halloween Party sketch, and who knows why Kids was cut, but here it is out in the world for us to enjoy.

  Ali Velez is a YouTube Nation Curator who will beat you at the SNL version of Trivial Pursuit.

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Playlist: In Honor Of 9/11, 7 Symbols Of Hope

13 years ago today, I remember waking up to the most beautiful Tuesday morning in New York. The sky was impossibly blue, the sun was shining and there was a gorgeous breeze in the air; that perfect time of year when summer is giving up her fight and fall is just around the corner. As I got onto the subway in Brooklyn, I was filled with hope and excitement. I was headed into lower Manhattan to set up my classroom, as I was about to start my first year teaching preschool the very next day.

I got off the subway at Christopher Street to confusion and chaos. I could smell smoke as I walked up the stairs to the street. I looked up and saw the image that is now etched in my memory for all time. There against the clear blue sky backdrop, the twin towers were burning. A crowd had started to form. Within moments, there were people running towards us covered in ash. A man pulled up in a pickup truck and lowered his windows so that we could all hear the live news report on the radio. That’s when we learned about The Pentagon, and later the news about Flight 93 crashing into a field in Pennsylvania.

And then, in a scene from a film that was playing out right in front of me, the first tower, and then the second crumbled to the ground. There was no sound. I heard nothing in those moments - not a scream, not the implosion that was happening just a few miles ahead, just silence as I watched in disbelief. I will never forget that moment.

I still remember every second of that day. I remember trying to get a cell phone signal to reach out to my parents and let them know that I was ok. I remember crying with strangers. I remember the fear and confusion, and most vividly, I remember the smell. I can still smell it so strongly that I almost taste it.

But this is about hope. And on that beautiful Tuesday that turned so dark with fear and sadness, I also remember the people of my beloved city. I still see people running into the bodega to get water bottles for strangers, dirty with soot, to hydrate them and clean them up. I remember in the days and weeks that followed how everyone in the city became a neighbor, a friend. I saw joy and life in a class full of three year olds that inspired me every day.

In times of sorrow, fear, illness, and through years of struggle, hope can spring up in the most unexpected ways. Sometimes people find solace in literal symbols and objects that bring them comfort, and other times the message is more metaphorical. Whether you find it in a shared experience, a piece of art or a treasured object, it is so important to find peace and strength in any way that propels you forward.

This playlist is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. I hope you can find something to connect with to bring you hope on this day of remembrance and in these often troubling times. As I sit here in sunny Los Angeles, my heart is with my friends and family in the city that I will always call home.

 Ali Velez, YouTube Nation Curator and native New Yorker

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Heart of the Nation: Gizmogul Gives Your Electronics a Second Life

Do you ever wonder what happens to your electronics after you throw them away? This is something I’ve wondered and worried about for so long that over time I have become a hoarder of old electronics. I still have every cell phone I have ever owned, from my 1999 dinosaur flip phone to my present smartphone. I also have old laptops, hard drives, and point-and-shoot cameras -- except for that one I accidentally threw away with my fast food bag in Hawaii. Yes, with all of my vacation photos on it. And don’t even get me started on old batteries. I don’t know how you’re supposed to get rid of them!

Recently, Gizmogul released this video that answers the question of where your old, discarded electronics go and the truth is worse than I had imagined.

Most of our unwanted or obsolete technology ends up in places like Agbogbloshie, a former wetland in Accra, Ghana which is currently the site of the world’s largest e-waste dump. Young men and boys as young as 12 years old work in these sites smashing the products for metals like copper, and burning the unusable or unsellable parts. This labor is a deadly one. The toxins released through the fumes of the burning e-waste cause respiratory infections, eye damage, and massive headaches to everyone in the community, and tragically most of the workers die of cancer in their 20s. Think about that for a moment. The MAJORITY of the young men and boys working under these conditions don’t live past their 20s. This is not okay. There has to be a better way.

And there is.

Gizmogul has partnered with African Outreach to help us all recycle our electronics responsibly. You can even sell your old electronics if you need extra cash, or you can donate them to be refurbished and repurposed. Proceeds made through the program will provide funding for a primary school in Agbogbloshie including a library and computer lab as well as tools, support, and programming for education. It’s a win for everyone. I don’t have to be a hoarder anymore, and I can help educate some kids in Ghana? While also reducing the toxic pollution and harmful work conditions? Sign me up!

To find out how to donate your old electronics, go to http://gizmogul.com/DONATE/

Looks like there’s going to be a little more space in my parents’ attic, now that I finally know what to do with my old stuff!

What is the oldest electronic device you still have to recycle? Tweet pictures of them to @youtubenation with the hashtag #ecyclethis!

 Ali Velez is a YouTube Nation curator.

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Heart of the Nation: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The Ice Bucket Challenge. It’s taking over social media, and chances are, you’ve seen videos all over your feeds of friends, relatives, and celebrities pouring buckets of ice water on their heads. You may have even done it yourself. You also probably have noticed there has been a bit of a backlash to the viral phenomenon. A lot of valid questions have been raised: Why ice buckets? Are people actually donating money or just pouring water on their heads to post the videos on social media? How does this help? Before I took the challenge, I asked a lot of these questions myself.

First of all, let’s talk about HOW the challenge got started. It can all be traced back to Peter (Pete) Frates, a former Boston College baseball star. After his diagnosis with ALS in 2012, Frates and his friend and fellow ALS patient Pat Quinn decided to take action to raise awareness and funding to help find a cure for this awful disease. I put together a short playlist to add context and insight into Pete’s story and the inspiration behind the ice bucket challenge.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gherig’s disease (after the legendary baseball player was diagnosed in 1939), is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells and spinal cord, causing loss of speech, paralysis, and ultimately death. I learned that in less than 5 minutes by looking up ALS the moment I was challenged. While there might be a small handful of people who simply pour water on themselves and post the video to Facebook for a virtual pat on the back, the majority of the videos seem to be very effective in spreading the word and getting people to open their minds and their wallets. According to the ALS Association at ALSA.org, as of today, the ice bucket challenge has raised over $79 million dollars in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 25). Those numbers can’t be ignored. It’s working.

I know that a bucket of water isn’t a lasting solution. Back in 2007 when I ran the Honolulu Marathon to raise money for AIDS Project Los Angeles, I wasn’t under the assumption that I cured AIDS by running 26.2 miles, but I did what I could to be part of the solution. Because I was tagged by a friend in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, I educated myself about the cause, donated what I could and then made a silly video of me getting doused with ice water to keep the chain of awareness and fundraising going. So go ahead, cool off on a hot summer day, or go online to ALSA.org and donate what you can, or both. All the cool kids are doing it. It’s like last summer’s Harlem Shake, now with 100% more altruism (and way less creepy dancing)!

Ali Velez, YouTube Nation Curator And Ice Bucket Champion

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YouTube Nation Remembers Robin Williams

Everyone has a favorite Robin Williams character. Growing up I never had a friend like Aladdin’s Genie, I learned the power of “carpe diem,” and I spent countless Sunday afternoons with Mrs. Doubtfire. I was sitting in my crowded dorm room in Boston cheering and high-fiving everyone when he won his first Academy Award for Good Will Hunting, but I think my absolute favorite is The Birdcage.

We all remember him as a genius actor who left a legacy of incredible performances on film and television, and that was only one part of an incredible career and life. I put together this playlist to cover all the stuff you won’t find in your DVD collection. You’ll see vintage stand-up and talk show appearances, introspective interviews, that moving Oscar speech, and a tribute to his tireless commitment to supporting our troops - traveling all over the world to bring them laughter in the darkest of times.

I hope this playlist brings you all a little bit of comfort and a few laughs. Oh Captain, my Captain indeed.

Ali Velez, YouTube Nation Sr. Curator

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6 Amazing Kids Breaking All Kinds Of Records!

This week, a video of tiny, but mighty 6-year old boy named Gagan Satish, limbo roller-skating (because, obviously that is a thing) under 39 SUV's, went viral. I have watched the video too many times to admit and still can’t wrap my giant head around how incredible a feat this is.

Kids are pretty fearless, and that makes them incredibly powerful. I’ve put together a playlist of amazing kids who are breaking all kinds of records. The talent, strength, and unbelievable determination these young wonders demonstrate is inspiring. Enjoy watching these phenoms break all kinds of molds - from national and world records to the sometimes more challenging and rewarding breaking of one’s own personal best.

Who knows? You might just be moved to challenge yourself to greatness! I’m gonna go brush off my skates...

Ali Velez, YouTube Nation Curator and Kid Enthusiast

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How A 4-Year Old Girl Reminded Me That Life Is Awesome

A while back, I wanted to start a new internet tradition to supplement--not replace--Throwback Thursday. I called this movement/hashtag/meme “Thankful Thursday.” It didn’t take. Throwback Thursday was just too strong. Finally, I had to give in to the fact that, like “Fetch,” Thankful Thursday was never going to happen. Lucky for me (and for the greater internet community at large) every once in a while comes along a video that satisfies both the need for nostalgia and for gratitude. On this particular Thursday, I’m happy to share such a video - Jessica’s Daily Affirmation.

Posted on June 16, 2009, but created years before that when little Jessica was only 4 years old, this candid home video has racked up over 14 million views. On the surface, yes, it’s a cute kid video - easy to coo at and appropriate to share with your friends from work AND your mom. To me, this video means so much more. It so filled with infectious joy and optimism: “I can do ANYTHING GOOD!” and it is a simple reminder that if you really take stock of the things in your life that make you happy, you just might find that life is really pretty great.

I remember the first time I saw this video. It was in 2010, and I was in graduate school. Mired in research papers, a very stormy winter, and hours of academic reading every night, I was really feeling buried. I was stressed out, sleep deprived, and broke. I could give you a list of things I had to complain about. One night, while cramming for a presentation, I took a little break to search YouTube for some light escapism. That’s when Jessica, perched up on her bathroom counter, danced her way into my heart. I watched it twice in a row, mostly because I was laughing and saying “YES!” so much the first time, I was afraid I might have missed something. I decided to take a few minutes and work on a side project. I made a list of all of the things that I liked about my current life. I like my friends: the new ones I’ve made in school who share my passions and goals and the old, treasured ones who have been supporting me and believing in me. I like my school (and the fact that I am the first person in my family to go to college, and now here I am getting a Masters Degree at an Ivy League institution - I’m PROUD of that), I like my house (I have a fireplace in my bedroom!)

The list went on and on. I printed it out and taped it up above my desk. I bookmarked the video just in case I forgot, again, just how good I had it.

I still send this video to friends all the time, when someone needs a pick-me-up or a pep talk. Even now, when I find myself complaining about my commute, a bad date, or how hot my apartment gets at night, I try to remember that I like all of the audio books and podcasts I have had time to enjoy on the way to/from work, I like laughing about bad dates over drinks with my bestie, and no matter how hot it gets, I LOVE that my apartment has a pool.

Oh, and I like my job. I like sharing videos that inspire me and make me laugh with you every day and I’m #ThankfulThursday (c’mon...it could be a thing!) about all of it.

I can do ANYTHING (except, apparently make a hasthag happen). Thanks, Jessica for the reminder.

Ali Velez, YouTube Nation Video Curator

Be sure to look for Ali in this week's Throwback Thursday on YouTube Nation.