San Diego Notables #1 - Black History Month - Willie O'Ree - Hockey's Jackie Robinson

Before I discovered Willie O'Ree was the first black man to play in the National Hockey League, I knew him simply as the husband of my (soon to be) wife's best friend. Now I list him as a great humanitarian and a personal friend of mine. When I married Sue, Willie and his wife "stood up" for us at our wedding ceremony.

Now in his seventies, Willie is still active in professional hockey as the Director of Youth Development for NHL Diversity.

Willie harbored a secret which would have ended his career had it been known. He lost his right eye in a hockey puck mishap; still, he continued to play professionally for many years.

For more information on Willie and his hockey achievements, open the link below. It includes a biography and a video interview produced in Canada.

http://missioncreep.com/mw/oree.html

Zydeco in San Diego - The Bon Temp Social Club

San Diego has a very active zydeco/Cajun community of homegrown dancers and musicians, thanks to The Bon Temps Social Club which holds weekly dances at Tio Leo's Cantina  in San Diego with lessons - most often taught by Greg Benusa.

Greg has taught hundreds of people the basics of zydeco dancing and has a DVD, that makes learning the dance at home a breeze. You can have fun the very first night on the dance floor. His website is www.greg@zydecoach.com.

The club also hosts a monthly - 2nd Sat dance with live zydeco and Cajun bands - often from Louisiana, and it participates annually in the local Gaslamp Quarter's Fat Tuesday Parade, held each year to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Club members build a float which more often than not wins the grand prize. A not to be missed aspect of this evening's events is a zydeco mass held before the parade at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which is well-attended by revelers who are decked out in their colorful costumes. It is a sight to behold.

The club's premier event is the Gator by the Bay Festival held each Mothers' Day weekend on Shelter Island at Spanish Landing Park. Many of zydeco's best groups come to San Diego for this event. This year's headliner is Keith Frank.

Of its two main stages, one specializes in zydeco and Cajun music, while the other presents blues and country music. Over this weekend event, tons of crawfish are served, as well as BBQ'ed turkey legs, beignets, and other traditional Louisana and "fair" food.

Gator by the Bay is a splendiferous, family friendly event. Oh, yeah! Don't forget to bring Mom. And Dad probably won't mind tagging along too much either.

For more information, open the link.
http://www.icajunzydeco.com/

Some Popcorn For the Mind

Are you weary of our fast paced world where instant gratification isn't quick enough? Do you long for the "good old days" when America seemed to know how to get things done?

Then this short subject called, "A Day In the Life of Moonbot Studios," is for you. It's a real laugh riot. The studio that produced the "2011" Oscar nominated Animated Short Subject, "The Amazing Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,"does a great job spoofing itself.

If you are a book lover and haven't seen "The Amazing Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," my blog post "The Wonder of Books" has a link to it.

http://vimeo.com/29048841

Good Advice For This Valentine's Day

Whether you have a significant other or not, be good to your heart this Valentine's Day.

Can a person stop a heart attack when alone, simply by coughing repeatedly? The experts say no! Don't be fooled!

snopes.com/medical/homecure/coughcpr.asp

Overseas Jobs Resource

If you or someone you know has been looking for a professional job, the Jooble international "help wanted" website may be able to find you that rewarding career you have been looking for. They are a European employment agency specializing in overseas jobs.

You can access their website from the link below or from the International Flags logo on the right sidebar of my blog - Fornology. If you are in a position to take advantage of this resource and are interested in working and experiencing another culture, this may be your ticket.

jooble-us.com

Movers and Shakers - People Who Made a Difference

Open the link for a better view of this awesome oil painting. See how many of these famous historical figures from the ages you can identify. Hover the cursor over a face for a name and click on it for information. For starters, that's Dante in the upper right hand corner; everyone else is contemplating eternity with him.

http://cliptank.com/PeopleofInfluencePainting.htm

The Wonder of Books

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a sentimental look at reading and literacy. This fourteen minute computer animation is for readers who love the the texture of paper and the magic of turning pages. It is nominated for an academy award.

As society moves further and further into a world of international symbols, logos, icons, and apps, the value and importance of literacy increases.  This video captures the magic of reading and may make you rethink this brave new world of hand held reading tablets.

http://vimeo.com/35404908