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Have You Seen This? Bird stops alligator from hurting baby birds
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This scene played out on a golf course in Florida where a crane blocked an alligator to protect its family. - photo by John Clyde
FLORIDA, OF COURSE As a parent, you have something inside of you that forces you to protect your family no matter what.

Never mind the danger or the high probability of dismemberment, you're always going to put yourself between your family and the danger. And that's just what this father crane in Florida did for his kids and their mother.

Eric Drexler caught the scene while on a golf course and posted the following description with the video, "I saw something really cool the other day while golfing. A Sandhill Crane with 6-foot wingspan was escorting an alligator from one body of water to another. He was actually protecting his wife and baby. That is one devoted dad."

If an alligator was threatening my family I'm not sure I'd stay as calm as this crane. I'd likely be grabbing kids by limbs and dragging them across the grass as I frantically ran them to safety. Well, moderate safety considering I'd probably inadvertently dislocate a shoulder or cause a bloody nose in the mayhem. So I'm going to try and take a lesson from this awesome father and just stay cool, calm and protective.

This video also reminds me that Florida is the second scariest place on earth next to Australia. The crane probably guarded his family against this alligator just to turn around and have to protect them from a crocodile and then from a python all before dinner.

So we've learned from this video that dads can be awesome and Florida is scary. Enjoy.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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