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Top 10 songs to listen to during a journey

Journeys: there are all sorts of them. Physical journeys, emotional journeys, spiritual journeys, they all inspire some form of personal growth, be it painful or enjoyable. At some point or another, we all experience our own journeys, and hopefully come out on the other side as better people.

And no journey is complete without a decent soundtrack to go along with it (trust me you can’t just sit there and listen to your own thoughts for too long without losing your mind). Best part about journey soundtracks? When you listen to them again after your journey is complete, you get to revisit it for just a brief moment in time, and this time, with a clear head. If you’re looking for the perfect song for your journey, you’re in luck, because I have decided to sit down and list my favorite songs to listen to when I’m in the middle of a journey. 1. Vienna, Billy Joel: I have a friend who always makes fun of me for my love of Billy Joel because, as he claims, it’s “Dad music.” Regardless of the fact that I am neither male nor a dad, I still love Billy Joel, and I love this song even more. 2. Glory Days, Bruce Springsteen: This is my absolute favorite song to play when I am in the middle of a happy journey. It just makes you want to dance (maybe that’s just me?). It also reminds me of summer. Hard to go wrong. Thanks Bruce, for being so awesome and always putting me in a good mood. 3. Sometime Around Midnight, Airborne Toxic Event: I listened to this song so many times in a row towards the end of my first internship experience (I really didn’t want to leave!), that I can no longer listen to it at all. That being said, if I listened to it so much, it must have really resonated with me during that particular journey. 4. September, Earth, Wind & Fire: For the record, yes, I am totally serious. I love this song, and I’m 95% sure you do too even if you’ll never admit it. For me, September will always remind me of my journey through college. Just a shot in the dark, but maybe it’s all the times my friends and I sloppily “danced” around screaming it at the top of our lungs? 5. Don’t Panic, Coldplay: A fantastic song for a more emotional journey. Zach Braff obviously thought so too, or else he wouldn’t have featured it in Garden State. 6. What’s Going On, A Perfect Circle: Originally a Marvin Gaye song, A Perfect Circle did a fantastic cover, making it a little darker, and all the better for our emotional journey soundtrack. 7. This Year, The Mountain Goats: “i am going to make it though this year, if it kills me” pretty much sums up why this song is excellent for the journey song list. You can’t help but feel a strange mix of hope and sadness when listening to this. I highly recommend it if you have not had the chance to hear it yet. 8. Islands, The xx: It is so easy to get lost in your own thoughts when listening to The xx. Hence, they make it onto the list. 9. Weight of the World, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Again, another one that makes it so easy to get lost in your thoughts and just reflect. And last but certainly not least... 10. Electrical Storm, U2: Not one of their better known songs, and I really can’t explain this one. I just love this song and it always comes through for me in the middle of a journey. That’s my list! Even if you’re not in the middle of a journey right now, you at least have some new music to go check out! Of course, don’t forget to return the favor! What are your favorite journey songs? --Sarah D, WORLD Compass Intern Extraordinaire

Freedom Riders

Catch the broadcast, May 16th on PBS/WGBH & May 17th on WORLD Compass.

Top 10 Journey Movies

It’s a new month, which means there is a new theme here at WORLD Compass. And a new theme is always just a good excuse for some new lists to be made. So I figured, why not rehash the good old Top 10 Movies list, with a slight theme modification?

And rehash I did. I present to you, the Top 10 “Journey” Movies.

Stand by Me: One of the few Stephen King stories that translated into a movie well. Maybe I just think that because I haven’t read the story it is based off of…regardless, it was a great movie about a literal journey to find the body of a missing friend, and a more figurative journey about growing up. I highly recommend it if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet.

The Darjeeling Limited: Yet again another movie that revolves around a literal and figurative journey. Noticing a trend? Literally, three brothers who have not been in contact with one another for a year travel through India for a spiritual quest. Figuratively, well, they haven’t spoken in a year and they are on a spiritual quest. That only equals a tumultuous emotional journey.

Office Space: Yes, I’m seriously including this movie. It fits though, I promise. The tale of one man’s transition from miserable cube-dweller to contented clean-up crew worker sure sounds like a journey to me.

Stranger Than Fiction: When Harold Crick finds himself as the subject of an author’s narration, he is forced to re-evaluate his entire life, and eventually come to terms with his own death. A charming and sweet journey movie.

I Heart Huckabees: I think I’ve seen this quirky movie about an existential journey four times now and I still can’t quite put together all the pieces.

The Fighter: Sadly, I haven’t seen this movie yet, but everything I’ve heard indicates that it is the perfect candidate for this list. I really should get on seeing this.

Eat Pray Love: If I’m being honest, I HATED this movie. But the book was quite excellent. However, both the movie and the book do meet the qualifications for this list, as they both cover one woman’s food, spiritual, and emotional journeys after a rough divorce.

UP: Perhaps the cutest journey movie on the list. Crotchety old Carl Fredricksen takes the journey to accomplish his lifelong goal of exploring the wilderness of South America. He even learns a thing or two along the way.

When Harry Met Sally: The obligatory love story! What, you thought there could be a Top 10 movie list without it?

(500) Days of Summer: Okay, well now there are two love stories on the list. To be fair this one is really only half a love story, following one man’s journey through love and heartbreak.

There you have it!

-Sarah D, WORLD Compass Intern Extraordinaire

Photos from Marwencol

Top 10 Celebrity Outsiders

Yes, celebrities can be outsiders too!

1. Michael Jackson: No explanation required.

2. Charlie Sheen: Charlie Sheen and I obviously coordinated on the timing of his breakdown that made him the current most talked about celebrity outsider (though I know we’re all waiting to see how long that lasts) and this blog post….

3. John Lennon: I mean, it’s John Lennon!

4. Tom Hanks: I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t love Tom Hanks. But this choice maybe isn’t so obvious. Let me explain. I categorize Tom Hanks as an outsider simply because I feel like he is the anti-celebrity celebrity; he’s never involved in scandals, you only hear about him in relation to new movies he releases, and his private life is never a topic of discussion. Mr. Hanks may just be the most down to earth celebrity out there, automatically making him an outcast among his attention-seeking peers.

5. Zach Galifianakis: If you aren’t sure why he has made the list, take five minutes to watch Between Two Ferns. Actually, I recommend you take those five minutes and watch regardless. I promise, you will enjoy it much more than whatever you are currently working on.

6. Mel Brooks: “Wait Master, it might be dangerous... you go first” (Young Frankenstein). Known for his wacky, cult-classic films such as Young Frankenstein and Spaceballs, there is hardly a more suitable man for this list.

7. Flava Flav: If you have never seen any the many VH1 reality shows in which he has had a role, just know the eccentric is really the best way to describe this oddball. Case and point: he has just opened his own fried chicken chain. I think I will be avoiding it at all costs.

8. Kate Gosselin: There is so much debate surrounding Kate Gosselin, and none of it flattering.

9. Lady Gaga: Bi zarre is the first thing that comes to mind. From her infamous meat dress (gross) to arriving at the Grammy’s in a giant egg, it seems we’re all just waiting to see what outrageous stunt she comes up with next.

10. The Duggar family: A family with 20 kids is not something you see everyday…

With that, I think I may have exhausted my list making skills for the time being. Hope you have enjoyed them!

-Sarah D, WORLD Compass Intern Extraordinaire

The WORLD channel (formerly PBS WORLD) and the Independent Television Service (ITVS) present Global Voices, a showcase of internationally themed documentaries made by independent filmmakers from around the globe. Global Voices offers intimate and uncommon stories by and about everyday people. Meet Serbian fishermen, Armenian tightrope dancers, Chinese factory workers, and Ethiopian coffee growers. From North Korea to Israel, South Africa to the former Soviet Union, Global Voices offers rare insights and firsthand perspectives from the world and its people.

#PBS,#WORLD #global voices #ITVS #independent lens

Top 10 Weirdest Places (U.S. Edition)

This was, without a doubt, the most enjoyable “Top 10 outsider” list to make. And hey, this list can pull double duty, since I now have a new list of places to visit!

1. Centralia, PA: Now, World Compass has visited Centralia previously with Stacy Buchanan’s blog post “Centralia, PA – A Town on Fire.” But let’s face it, how many towns have you heard of that are suffering from an underground coal fire for fifty plus years? This place is definitely outlandish enough to warrant the revisit on the “Top 10” list.

2. Gravity Hills: Gravity hills are not specific to one area, but there do seem to be a fairly large concentration of these peculiar occurrences in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. You know you have stumbled upon a gravity hill when the road appears to be sloping down, but it is actually sloping up. If you stop and let your car roll on it’s own, it gives the illusion that the car is rolling backwards up the hill. Trippy stuff.

3. Ava Maria Grotto (Cullman, AL): Alabama is not typically the first place I would think to look to for weird structures, but this miniature stone city is an absolutely incredible sight. The hunchback Benedictine Monk, Brother Joseph Zoetti, dedicated his life to reconstructing the125 scaled-down religious bu ild ings out of concrete, constructed the Grotto that now sits on the grounds of the St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman.

4. Bubble Gum Alley (San Luis Obispo, CA): Ever wonder what 50 year bubble gum looks like? Well fear not, there is a place in California that you can go to find out! Bubble Gum Alley in San Luis Obispo has been collecting bubble gum along the walls of the 40-foot long, 25-foot tall lane since 1960. That is a fascinatingly disgusting amount of bubblegum.

5. Rock City (Minneapolis, KS): Picture a 200-acre field. Now picture 200 gigantic, house-sized, sandstone rocks in said field and you have yourself Rock City. I’d hate to live in that neighborhood. The commute out must be so “rocky.” Sorry, but I had to go there.

6. The Grotto of Redemption (West Bend, IA): This Grotto is the world’s largest collection of minerals and petrified materials, and is estimated to be worth a meager $4 million (here’s hoping they don’t have a “you break it, you buy it” policy). Of course the price tag isn’t the only impressive spec; the Grotto is more than 100 feet wide, over 20 feet deep, and up to 40 feet high. Fun fact: it is actually made up of 9 separate themed grottos.

7. Longaberger Basket Company Headquarters (Newark, OH): If you thought corporate America was going to hell in a hand basket, you will appreciate the fact that one company did everything they could to speed up the process by literally making a giant basket their headquarters. In 1997, the Longaberger Basket Company spent $30 million to construct a seven story exact replica of their “Medium Market Basket,” complete with 75-foot handles and all.

8. The Boneyard (The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, Tucson, AZ): Oohhhhh so this is where they hide all the defunct airplanes…and of course, because no one would ever think to check the middle of the desert. But seriously, I can only imagine what an outlandish sight this must be, four thousand out-of-commission aircrafts just hanging out in the Arizona desert.

9. Turnbull Ruins (New Smyrna, FL): Mysterious ruins are always fun, and that’s just what these are. The ruins, located in New Smyrna’s Old Fort Park, measure 40 by 80 feet. They are only assumed to be a fort, as there are no actual records documenting the origins. It has been theorized that the ruins may also be the foundation to an unfinished mansion.

10. Franklin Castle (Cleveland, OH): That’s right, Cleveland has its own castle. Not only is it a castle, but also it’s a potentially haunted castle, which makes it even more awesomely weird. This four story, approximately 30-room castle is home to a variety of hidden rooms and secret passageways. The creation of these nooks and crannies is heavily debated, and many hold they built so that the owner could commit heinous crimes. Either way, cleaning that monster must have been quite a task, with so many areas to get lost and trapped in. I bet they lost more than a couple maids.

So there you have it, the Top 10 Weirdest Places! I’m sure there are dozens more, but sadly I just don’t have the time to compile them all into lists. But if you know of other notable odd, “outsider” places, we’d love to hear more about them.

--Sarah D, World Compass Intern Extraordinaire

Remember The Louds (and of course Lance Loud -- above)? Here's your chance to reunite! The WORLD channel is hosting 24-hour marathon screening of PBS' An American Family. Tune in on April 24th to watch significant life events unfold in the first reality tv series, ever.

And check out our website to find the WORLD channel near you --> http://bit.ly/g63dA0

#an american family #pbs #reality tv #worldcompass #world channel #lgbt #lance loud #the louds #tv

Top 10 movies about OUTSIDERS

If there is one thing in life that I am good at, it is making lists. To-do lists, grocery lists, packing lists, you name it. If there’s a task at hand, I’ve probably made a list for it.

So I thought with this month’s theme of OUTSIDERS, why not do what I do best? With that in mind I set out to conquer outsiders everywhere with my top 10 lists. And for my first installment of top 10 outsiders, I thought it might be fun to delve into the world of movies…enjoy!

The Outsiders: Okay if I’m being honest, I chose this movie purely based on the name. I mean come on, I’m putting together a list about outsiders and the movie title is The Outsiders. Of course it’s going to be number one, regardless of whether or not I have seen (I have never, in fact, seen it. I should probably put that on my list of “movies I need to see”).

A Clockwork Orange: This one I have seen. Delinquent Alex DeLarge finds his way into the hands of the British government and is subjected to an experimental therapy in an attempt to change this outsider’s violent ways…a classic movie about an outsider.

District 9: I’m going on hearsay on this movie. But from what IMDB tells me, there is nothing that doesn’t scream outsider about a movie plot that revolves around aliens stuck living in poor conditions on earth.

Shrek: The first Shrek that is. I could have done without the other 3, 4? How many are there now? Regardless, big green, goofy looking creature living alone in a swamp will always equate to an adorable movie about a lovable outsider.

Juno: A pregnant, already quirky, teenage girl navigating her way through high school. Need I say more?

Little Miss Sunshine: I must have seen this movie about 60 times after it came out. But really, in the world of beauty pageants, Olive and her family just scream outsiders.

American Psycho: I don’t know about you, but I certainly consider psychopathic killers to be s itting on the outer fringes of society.

Almost Famous: There’s a good chance I included this movie just because, well, just because I felt like it…however it seems to work, considering it is about a high school kid who is given the chance to tour with a band for the end purpose of writing a Rolling Stone article about them from an outsider’s perspective.

The Royal Tenenbaums: From the sketchy father, Royal Tenenbaum, who steals money from his son, to Richie Tenenbaum’s secret love for his adopted sister Margot, every member of this severely dysfunctional family can be considered an outsider.

Waiting for Guffman: Maybe it’s my weakness for Christopher Guest movies, but I love, love, love this movie. In this mockumentary, a small town rallies together to put on the m ost impressive (an unintentionally hilarious) performance the y can for a Broadway critic (our outsider in this instance) who will allegedly be in att endance. Ironically, the majority of the movie revolves around an outsider that we never really see.

Stay tuned for my next top 10 list! In the meantime, I want to know, what are some of your favorite movies about outsiders?

--Sarah D, World Compass Intern Extraordinaire

tballardbrown

Fifty years ago this May, 13 people boarded a bus in Washington, D.C. The Freedom Riders, as they are called, challenged segregation on buses and in waiting rooms throughout the South. Some of those riders are using their experiences to motivate students today — to show them that the actions of one person can make a difference.

Ahead Of 50th Anniversary, Freedom Riders Remember : NPR (via tballardbrown)

The economic rift between rich and poor in America is deepening, but a new awareness is also taking root among the people. That's the opinion of renowned civil rights activist Dr. Cornel West, who shared his views during an exclusive interview with RT's Marina Portnaya.

#america,#politics,#cornel west #barack obama #american politics

How much do you think it's worth?

#PBS #Antiques Roadshow #WORLD #World Compass #Outsiders

Every Labor Day weekend, tens of thousands descend upon Atlanta for Dragon*Con, the largest convention of pop-culture fandom in the Southeast. From science fiction celebrities and their obsessive fans to colorfully costumed characters engaged in mock combat, FOUR DAYS AT DRAGON*CON explores the “Woodstock for nerds.”

Featuring interviews with fans, staff, performers, artists, stars and would-be superheroes, the documentary examines the sense of community and acceptance that forms among this often ridiculed and marginalized subculture.

Upcoming broadcasts

Sat, April 2, 2011, 10:00 AM Sat, April 2, 2011, 3:00 PM Sat, April 2, 2011, 8:00 PM Sun, April 3, 2011, 1:00 AM

#dragon*con #WORLDcompass #WORLD channel #PBS

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public-radio-market:

It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creatinga Life Worth Living by Dan Savage and Terry Miller

Buy Book | Kindle

Listen to Patt Morrison

Following the deaths of several gay teens last fall, “Savage Love” columnist Dan Savage and his husband launched the “It Gets Better Project” to support gay/lesbian/bisexual/transsexual youth. The idea was that discouraged gay teens would realize their lives were worth living if older gay people offered hope and encouragement. So Savage and his husband, Terry Miller, created a YouTube video about their own experiences being bullied as teens, to tell teenagers a simple message about the future: It gets better.The movement began with a YouTube video that went viral and evolved into a collection of testimonials and stories. The latest incarnation of the project is a book they co-edited together, combining transcribed videos and essays from President Obama, David Sedaris, Bishop Gene Robinson, Murray Hill and Ellen DeGeneres, among others.

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culturalbytes:

Just bought my tickets to Austin, Texas for SXSW - who else will be there? This will be my first SXSW! I get to play with the amazingly smart and playful Glenda Bautista, who invited me to join the Futures 15 line up. Future 15’s are a SXSW curated panel of short...

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staff:

Our own Mark Coatney is going to be on CNN’s Piers Morgan tonight at 9pm to talk about bloggers who are sharing information about the events happening in Egypt.

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zadi:

phewsha:

The Bermuda Triangle of Productivity - where does all the time go?

>Massive/wallpaper sized version here!<

I drew this one day after two unrelated friends complained about how they get sucked into certain websites instead of doing work, which is exactly what I do. I think….this maybe, possibly, maybe happens to some other people as well.

A4 prints of this are now available in my shop!

We need life rafts.

#zadi #world compass

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