Afro-Brazilian Beauty
Since the conception of bossa nova as a variation on the revered samba occurred in the late 1950s, poet/diplomat/composer/playwright Vinícius de Moraes has been among the most influential and innovative forces behind this musical movement.
A stunning example of his musical talent is the composition “Regra Três.” This composition can be found on the 1979 album 10 Anos de Toquinho e Vinícius, which features guitarist Antônio Pecci Filho. The suave and syncopated opening guitar melody immediately immerses the listener into a state of serene awe that is capable of transcending even the darkest of moods with its bright airiness.
Though the song is not necessarily complicated in the traditional harmonic sense there remain some changes that could surprise the listener. Yet decisions such as suspending the “I” chord and its subsequent transformation into a dominant “V” chord add flavour to the composition, seeming perfectly natural instead of adding chromatic overtones to the piece.
After what seems too short a time the song concludes with the vocalists chanting in unison as the turnaround is played through with an imminent finality. From beginning to end, “Regas Três” has the peculiar ability to enthrall listeners and remains a definitive composition by Brazilian music giant Vinícius de Moraes.
Bella goes under cover
There are many different forms of bullying, such as verbal, physical and cyber bullying. But there is also another from of bullying that is not talked about anymore and receives no news coverage. It’s what’s written on the walls of bathrooms.
Some people can just file this under vandalism and not pay much attention to it, but it’s not just vandalism. Writing hateful comments directed towards a specific individual can be classified as bullying and filed under its own category of media. Word of Mouth is still one of the strongest and fastest ways to spread rumours.
Some comments can be extremely cruel. There are many ways of hurting an individual’s feelings — and not just with comments. The infamous “Hot List” located in many girls washrooms contains names of what guys a group of girls find hot. Once word spreads of who is on the list, probably in front of others, it singles out those who are not on the list.
One solution to avoid this from happening in the first place is to paint the walls in the bathroom. Stalls and all! And I don’t mean just slapping on “one-tone” boring paint. One group of kids got creative by getting the go-ahead to have well-known student artists take part in repainting their school bathroom with colourful paint and awesome art!
That’s one very cool way of stopping this current forgotten issue.
Inés checks out Pizzeria Libretto
Word of Mouth Advertising Feeds Pizza Libretto’s Success
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Pizzeria Libretto – A new pizza restaurant on the Danforth
Why it’s cool:
This pizza place is an interesting example of media. It’s really popular because of word of mouth advertising: one person tells another person and they tell their friends and so on and so on….
This is a restaurant that specializes in pizza from Naples, Italy. Their style is quite different from any other style of pizza I’ve ever tasted. It is a very soft, thin crust pizza with a unique taste.
It is easy to bite and the toppings are simple but TASTY. I ordered the sausage pizza that had sausage, caramelized onion, mozzarella cheese and chilli oil.
I chose not to have chilli oil because it was too spicy for me. They have bottles of chilli oil on the table so you can put it on yourself.
The garden salad was good and very fresh.
I had Nutella ice cream for dessert and my dad had the Tiramisu. They were both fantastic.
Pizza Libretto is a very busy, popular place with lots of happy customers. There is great service and you can go there for lunch or dinner. There is a front window view with one long table so you can see out to the Danforth and watch people go by.
Is it educational?
Not really, however you can learn what Neapolitan pizza tastes like.
Is it entertaining?
Yes, because you can watch a lot of people and fill your belly with delicious Neapolitan pizza!
Jordan checks out Coins for Change – Club Penguin
Coins for Change - Club Penguin
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Coins for Change – Club Penguin
Why is it cool?
I don’t know if you like Club Penguin but I certainly do! On Club Penguin there are so many things to do and you can never get bored. There are stamps, games, pets, houses and so many new people to meet!
When I first logged on to Club Penguin I knew that I was going to love it! Every week there are new missions and a new newspaper. My favourite thing to do on Club Penguin is to take care of my puffles and collect coins.
If I were you I would check Club Penguin out and give it a try!
Is it educational?
YES, Club Penguin is very educational because it teaches you all about the environment! This year Club Penguin hosted a party called Coins For Change and every penguin gave coins to help the world be a better place! Over $2,000,000 went to places around the world to help build hospitals and homes and to help the environment.
Bilal checks out Google Science Fair
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Google Science Fair
Why it’s cool!
Why this event is really cool and awesome is because this isn’t your typical Science Fair. This Science Fair is held by one of the top leading companies in the world and is online, so you can participate at home.
This is the second Science Fair Google has held. It also inspires kids to do more than they are asked and that it tells them everybody has a question but only the true geniuses will find the answer.
Asian Long Horned Beetle
Another reason it is cool is because I plan on entering in this prestigious competition myself and hopefully win! All my science projects are about going green and this year I hope to build a cure or repellent that is green and does not harm anything other than the Asian Long Horned Beetle because it is estimated in 10 years they will wipe the entire Maple Tree population!
The reason I think Google is doing this is because they want to take credit for the Scientists of tomorrow and if they can somehow own up to someone’s ideas they will become an even bigger company.
Is it entertaining, educational or a little of both?
It’s definitely a little of both because you entertain yourself by doing the project, researching on what you like, and participating in a worldwide Science Fair. It is educational because you are doing a Science project and you have to experiment and research on your topic.
Kate checks out Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist
Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist
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Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist – book
Why it’s cool!
I like Fancy Nancy because she has jewellery. I like this book because I like to draw and Nancy draws.
Nancy’s friend Bree goes away to New York on vacation. Fancy Nancy sets up an art gallery for Bree when she gets back.
She draws a lot. Her sister draws too.
Fancy Nancy is really happy when Bree comes back. They hang up some of their drawings.
Is it entertaining, educational or a little of both?
Both. I learned to always try your hardest. I also learned about artists.
Salmah checks out My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
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My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Why it’s cool!
You can watch My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. on Treehouse. I usually just watch episodes on YouTube. I just can’t get enough of this show! I am watching episodes from both season 1 & 2. It is cool because there are lots of characters and they all have amazing talents. All the episodes have a special lesson about friendship. My favourite characters are Rainbowdash, Applejack and Fluttershy. My cousins and I watch it together.
Is it entertaining, educational or a little of both?
It is educational because at the end of every episode there is special message about friendship. You can use this message to be nice to your own friends. This is why I like My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. I can’t wait until season 3 comes out!
Tori checks out the Cupcake Maker app
Cupcake Maker
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Cupcake Maker – free app for iTouch
Why it’s cool…
It is fun to make cupcakes and decorate them. You start by cracking the eggs and picking all the things that go in the batter. You get to mix the batter, choose the muffin papers, and put batter in the muffin tins. Then you bake it, which is really fast.
I love pushing the buttons to pick the muffin I want to decorate. I like the pink fluffy icing the best because it looks the best to eat and pink is my favourite colour. Sometimes I add double icing but not always. I always put on lots and lots of sprinkles because those are my favourite. I also add candy gummies.
When I’m all done decorating you get to eat it by pushing on the screen a lot of times. That’s the best part. Sometimes I let my mom or my dad or my brother eat it. It is always delicious because I am a great cook.
Is it entertaining? Is it educational? Or a little of both?
It teaches me how to make a cupcakes for when I do it in real life. But I don’t get to add as many sprinkles.
Mostly it is just fun.
Matthew checks out The Incredibles
The Incredibles
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The Incredibles
Why it’s Cool:
The Incredibles is a movie where a family called the Incredibles fight villains. They are superheroes. The boy runs super fast. I think the girl can put up force fields. The mom is kind of elastic and I forget what the dad can do. At the end of the movie they find out the baby can shape-shift.
At the beginning of the movie, the dad was not being nice to one of his fans. His fan turned evil. At the end of the movie, the evil guy tries to kidnap the baby. That’s when the family found out the baby could shape-shift. The evil fan got sucked up into a plane engine. I like it because the movie has lots of booms and bangs and it’s really epic.
Is it entertaining? Is it educational? Or a little of both?
I don’t really think the movie is educational but I liked it.
I think the movie is kind of violent because they fight so it’s not good for two-year-olds or other young kids.
Madison checks out attack of the cute
attack of the cute
Check this out:
attack of the cute
Why it’s cool:
attack of the cute is a website created for people of all ages and a great way to link the generations. It is also a website that will make you crowd around the computer in the same way Disney movies used to unite families around the television screen.
attack of the cute is a serious dose of heart-melting images. The website collects photos of adorable animals with funny captions and allows you to vote for which one you think is cuter. From cats and dogs, rabbits and rats to giraffes, hedgehogs and hippopotami (or whatever the plural is for several hippopotamuses) the photos don’t discriminate and are all just so darned cute.
With hundreds and hundreds of pictures, you can spend your day cooing over these furry, fluffy, wide-eyed creatures. attack of the cute is adorable enough to make anyone’s day.
Is it educational, entertaining or both?
Although it doesn’t contain anything educational, it brings a smile to your face with every photo. Anyone who visits it should be warned that not only will you spend hours on this website, but you will also feel an instant desire to go out and buy a cuddly pet.
The Kids’ Panel
Meet our kids’ panel: a savvy group of kids with a strong point of view about the media and the culture they consume. Culturally diverse, a range of age and interests, they’ll provide you with an insight into kids’ media ... what works, what doesn’t and why. Check back every month for new reviews. We think you’ll be inspired!
- Age 4-8
- Age 9-15
- Age 16-19
- Got a game or product you want to put though its paces? Pilot it with our kids’ panel. Email kidsmediacentre@centennialcollege.ca for more information.