Mike Tompkins: One man, one voice – so many instruments

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mike Tompkins: LIVE!

We’ve been fans of Mike Tompkins for almost a month – that’s all. Yesterday he released his latest and it’s going viral.

One man, one computer, a few pads and a couple of mikes in his girlfriend’s apartment. THIS is what the internet is all about. THIS is why Sony Music, Virgin, CBS and all the rest are freaking. Tompkins is making a living with his voice, and if he keeps it up he might make a good living – marketing straight to his fans, selling songs through iTunes or giving them away in exchange for club dates where he can make some money too.

No 15% contract for this man like some beggar saying “Please Mr. Sony, please distribute my CD and take all the money.”

Music, fiction, politics, economies, freedom: The internet changed everything.

Spark of the Day! Will you marry me?

Ginny thinks she’s watching a movie with her brother. She doesn’t know that the trailer is something else!

(Hey darlin’ – I know I didn’t make any movie trailer for you…

… but Auntie said she’ll collect up the boys for dinner on Monday evening. See you later!) 🙂

Spark of the Day! – Mobile phone commercial shows why I love the Japanese

Prepare to be amazed!

posted by Robert

Spark of the Day! Keenan Cahill goes viral with Rihanna’s Only Girl in the World

Keenan has over 200 hundred million views on YouTube

I laughed, I cried and I prayed as I watched 16 year old Keenan Cahill’s lip-sync singing videos on YouTube.

God made us all different, and Keenan’s challenges didn’t stop him. He’s a worldwide sensation and I love him. (and yes that is 50 Cent singing with him in another video.)

Shona

Here’s Keenan’s homepage: http://keenansroom.com/

Here’s his full YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BeenerKeeKee19952

Spark of the Day! About that missing sock…

My sock fell off. What do I do now?

Of course all the girls at work did nothing else yesterday after this hit the network! 🙂

Spark of the Day! A lesson in hard work and Chapati making.

An old friend sent us this video with the message “Show this to your local Union guys and to workers. This is production!“

I couldn’t help but post it as a Spark. It’s magic and I want to visit India just to see this team in action.

Spark of the Day! Love and Miracles for Blind Man

“I didn’t think anyone would want to marry me, but she said she did.”

Shander Herian had been blind since an accident at the age of 10, but that didn’t matter to his wife to be. It was an arranged marriage for the Brit of Indian heritage and the Gurjeet said “yes”.

The couple worked hard. Together they assembled computers and sold them. She drove him to the customers and he used a braille keyboard to set up the software. Two daughters and ten years later they were millionaires.

Then he could see again.

An uplifting story of love and miracles that’s just what I needed on Monday morning.

You read a story like this, you feel good and you realize that compared to some people you have no problems at all!

Spark of the Day! A different sort of Flying Fish

“Just happened to pick up the camera…”

Okay, we know it’s not a fish, but we couldn’t resist the play on words considering this is a Bajan blog and all that. Click on the photo and you’ll be taken to the Daily Telegraph to see the large photo and read how Matt Deans took this one in a million shot.

Spark of the Day! is our occasional reminder of how beautiful this little planet really is – and should be.

Spark of the Day! Orphan Princess in Kenya

‘Princess’ is smart, friendly and doing alright by the standards of the camp. She has put on weight and is healthy. Like most of the children, once she gets into the programme she has an excellent chance at a good future. I wish I could have taken her home, but that wouldn’t have been right either. See you next year, little one!

This Spark of the Day! is our way of reminding our readers and ourselves that we should be giving something back. One person can make a difference! It made a difference to Princess.

Spark of the Day! Join a prayer circle in Japan

Some seek truth one way, some in another…

We received this photo of a Japanese prayer circle from an anonymous reader and it makes me think about how little I know about how others seek God, or if you prefer, truth. I don’t know what religion this “prayer circle” represents if it does at all and I haven’t researched it yet. Perhaps our Robert knows because he’s been everywhere. Something about the photo attracts me even if I can’t quite describe its appeal because I’m off to bed and I might have had a few or more.

Spark of the Day! is our reminder that other folks are different, but the same as us.

Spark of the Day! Can this homeless man with the Golden Voice work again?

Ted Williams from Brooklyn: The Man with the Golden Voice

Sometimes you have to see the bottom before you can start your climb back. Will Ted Williams be able to rescue himself? He seems grounded in his reality and so full of hope. I hope he finds the new life he’s searching for.

Remember Ted in your prayers today. And never think that it couldn’t have been you or someone you love.

Spark of the Day! “Congo” makes you think of…?

Fred thinks of Geneviève bringing him some strudel.

Not exactly the photo you had in mind when you hear about someone traveling to the Congo? Then maybe you should think about buying an airline ticket to someplace you’ve never dreamed of visiting. Travel: it will change your worldview… and change you too!

Spark of the Day! is our little reminder that most of the folks you meet anywhere are likely to return your smile and kindness – and they are as curious about you as you are about them.

Our thanks to Fred, and yes – Geneviève makes your little heart skip a beat, fuh sure!

Spark of the Day! African drums, kilts and bagpipes…

L’Acoustica plays and the world gets smaller

After seeing the above photo inserted into a YouTube video from Scotland, I tried to discover more about the musicians. I think I’ve discovered who they are, but I’ve been unable to hear their music anywhere.

L’Acoustica is a new Scottish sonic folk/soul trio formed by Bryan Tolland, Noel Bridgeman and Carl Bridgeman. Bryan is the white guy and twin brothers Noel and Carl hail from Dominica – or at least their family does. The group’s website is fuzzy on that.

They played live on BBC Radio Scotland on the Janice Forsyth broadcast at the Royal Highland Show, but sadly BBC didn’t post a recording, only some photos. There is something wildly intriguing about this fusion of music and cultures. The photo showing one of the Bridgeman brothers dressed in a kilt and riding a stand-up bass like Buddy Holly and the Crickets playing the Apollo is pure adrenaline for mixies* like yours truly. And part of the high is knowing that it drives the racial haters and segregationists (of all colours) insane.

*Mixies = People who are mixed race, mixed culture or in mixed marriages.

Spark of the Day! Faith, Hope and Charity at a Kenya orphanage

Did you know that the old meaning for the word “Charity” was “Love”? The parents are dead of AIDS, but with a little love, this child will make it. Merry Christmas, little one.

Give thanks to a friend of a friend who sent this and other photos of hope from Kenya.

Spark of the Day! All smiles in Kenya

Children are the same anywhere, or rather they should be. These cuties in Kenya were playing and laughing and being children when Naddel photographed them in 2009. You can check out his other Africa photos here.

Spark of the Day! is our reminder to pause once in a while and enjoy The good, good Earth.

Spark of the Day! Why are these Haitian girls smiling?

Daphna, Lysemene, Fabienne and Loudia can’t stop smiling

Look at them. You know what’s happened in Haiti this year and it’s a wonder that anyone can smile, but these girls have good reason to be happy.

Go ahead: take a moment, click on the photo and discover why they are smiling. You know you want to!

Spark of the Day! International sign language at Expo 2010

This little chap was photographed at Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Peace to you too, my friend! I hope you liked the Barbados Pavilion. Perhaps a few decades from now, we’ll see you visiting Barbados on your honeymoon.

Spark of the Day! is our little smile and a reminder that we can live together on this planet if we become like children and appreciate each other and the wonders of our home called “The good, good Earth”.

Spark of the Day! Trying out their English in Japan

Give thanks to an anonymous reader who sent us this wonderful photo of Japanese children trying out their English on a passing tourist. Such enthusiasm!

Spark of the Day! is our little smile and a reminder that we can live together on this planet if we become like children and appreciate each other and the wonders of our home called “The good, good Earth”.