By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Have You Seen This? The littlest mechanic
33c36bc2b8c589c20095a6a5f606067a3633d8e3d28b67b1be10bd501a04c768
Listening to little Phoenix, a 5-year-old boy, explain how to change a faulty wheel bearing on a 2001 Toyota Corolla is just about the sweetest, most informative 10 minutes youll ever spend in front of your computer. - photo by Angie Treasure
When I was little, I used to like to build things out of trash. Id tell my mom to not throw away toilet paper cardboard cores and broken hangers so I could tack them together with hot glue to make a pretend house or some kind of made up invention pretty standard behavior for a small child.

Its only when I got older and observed small children with remarkable abilities that I began to see my childhood exploits as what they were: nonsense.

Thats not to say play or imagination are unimportant, but its videos like the one from Phoenix and Dad on YouTube that bring things into perspective.

Listening to little Phoenix, a 5-year-old boy, explain how to change a faulty wheel bearing on a 2001 Toyota Corolla is just about the sweetest, most informative 10 minutes youll ever spend in front of your computer.

Phoenix discussing the inner workings of the Toyota is almost like hearing a tiny tot speaking in a foreign language, which is also adorable. He rattles off terms like cotter pin, brake hose clamp, slide hammer, bearing couplet and CV axle shaft. I only know those are real things because I Googled them.

Conceivably, you could follow Phoenixs instruction to repair your own 2001 Toyota Corolla, but I like to think of the video is akin to an episode of Bob Rosss The Joy of Painting. I dont watch because Im going to fix a car or paint happy little trees in acrylics. I watch because it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

You have to admire dads mentality, teaching his kindergartener how to repair the Corolla when the adult couldve done it himself much quicker. But, as he wrote in the YouTube description, Who needs education toys when you can work on the real thing?

For those with less of an attention span (and who have an aversion to darling narration), there is a shorter 2-minute cut of the video.

Phoenixs dad said all monetization proceeds from the video would go directly to his son's education.
Sign up for our E-Newsletters
Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
638421_Screenshot_1.png
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.
Latest Obituaries