Yahoo! Picks - bringing you the best of the Web since 1995

add to my yahoo! View RSS Feed 

 

by Molly McCall
Wed, September 20, 2006, 3:00 am PDT

In a move that is, most likely, a first in the annals of historical study, this site tells "the history of Jews in America" through a parade of old LP covers (though the "history" claim may be disputed almost immediately). Collected, posted, and liberally doused with comments by Hippo and Campus, "two nonagenarian friends for life," this project is breathtaking in its sweep. Who would think—ever—of equating music for Jewish aerobics with Marion Jones and steroid testing? And besides their sunny locale, do the Miami Choir Boys and the Miami Heat have anything in common? Now they do. From Hebrew versions of Simon and Garfunkel to "Hanukah Rocks!" and "Jewish-American Songs for the Jet Set," this site brings to light decades of backlit, meticulously posed, luxuriously large album covers and equates them, outrageously, with whatever comes to mind. And for that we say Mazeltov, Mis Amigos!
by Molly McCall
Thu, December 08, 2005, 3:00 am PST

From Afghans living in France to Vietnamese residing in California, Asians and Asian culture can be found in every corner of the globe. Since 2000, Rice Bowl Journals has cultivated this "online journal community" of Asians worldwide. The well-designed clearinghouse stocks hundreds of sites, and offers a range of ways to stumble upon new ones. The Top 100 list, an index of the most popular sites in the bowl, is a good appetizer. Follow it with our favorite entree, the Consider Yourself Quoted section, a randomly generated list of blog excerpts and member photos. If you're hungering for more, explore the listings by country of origin (most represented ethnic group? Filipinos), location (the U.S. dominates), or just the newest grains in the bowl. You'll encounter blogs from Iranians in Brazil and Hmong in Minnesota. And, no matter what your background is, you'll get a taste of the Asian experience.
by Jill Robinson
Thu, July 28, 2005, 3:00 am PDT

You know those days when you're racking your brain for a good way to intimidate your co-workers? The haka may be just what you're looking for. Thanks to Tourism New Zealand, you can experience the "energy and awe of the haka." Read about its Maori origins and its various forms, then why New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, performs it on the field before every match. A nifty "Learn to Haka" feature shows you how to perform the moves and chant, step by step, complete with menacing eye-rolling and grimaces. So next time you just want everyone to leave you alone and have a few minutes to yourself, let loose with a mighty "Ka mate!"
Mon, December 20, 2004, 3:00 am PST

They call it Queer Eye meets the occult as satirists Thomas Scoville and Hughes Hall subject the metrosexual male to the whimsy of the tarot. Major and minor arcana list the highlights and perils metros encounter in their fabulous (albeit shallow) designer-label-wearing, hair-product-using lives. Everything revolves around the city -- doesn't matter which one, just spare him fly-over land. The closet door is the window into his soul, and the cocktail reigns supreme over his moods. He draws the Stylist card, but will he gain perfectly trendy hair or a horrible mistake? The Five of Forks may foretell a dinner party gone south, while the Decorator card can promise abundance and expression. The Seven of Shoes could mean sound foundations or pinching and blistering. What's in store for these impeccably well-groomed gents? Just ask the cards.

Filed under: Cultures and Groups

Tue, June 08, 2004, 3:00 am PDT

Welcome to a sport where thunder thighs are feared weapons and a potbelly can pin an opponent to the floor. This is the world of sumo, the quintessential Japanese spectacle where massive bodies, ancestral piety, good eats, and decades of training meet with the rock-star fanaticism of giddy crowds gathered around a simple dohyo, or sumo ring. Into this nationalistic arena of both excess and simplicity enters fresh blood from the West, American wrestlers who aim to shake up the status quo. For modern fans, this is an inevitable sign of the times. Already two Hawaiians, Akebono and Konishiki, have ascended to the rank of yokozuna, or grand champion. Will the super-sized collision of two worlds spell the end of sumo or spawn an offshoot sport? Only time, and a whole lotta sticky rice, will tell.


Copyright © 2007 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy