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Have You Seen This? Do not ride this ride
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I love amusement parks, but I'm not sure this ride is something I want to try any time soon. - photo by John Clyde


BAD IDEA TOWN I love amusement parks. I'm not sure what that says about me as a person, but I don't care. If I could live at Six Flags, Magic Mountain I would. I love trying out new rides and getting a thrill, but I think I might pass on this one in Myanmar.

This park in the city of Yangon is home to a ride called Tagada. What is Tagada you ask? I don't really know. All I know is it's a massive lawsuit waiting to happen and is basically the human equivalent of being in the spin cycle of an old washing machine that is off balance.

As I look at the people on this ride I hear laughing and see smiles, but what you can't see or hear is the inner turmoil and mountains of regret building inside them. These people are actually miserable and plan on throwing up as soon as they're out of sight.

Maybe I would try it because I'm not one to just not give something a chance, but if I knock heads with someone else and get a huge open wound I guess I have no one to blame but myself. Well, and the maniac who designed this ride. So, just the two of us, I can't blame anyone else.
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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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