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The Clean Cut: This 61-year-old gorilla knows how to eat a birthday cake
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The gorilla at Germany's Berlin Zoo recently turned 61 now sharing the record for oldest gorilla with Trudy from the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas. - photo by Lottie Peterson Johnson
Fatou, one of the oldest gorillas in the world, knows how to have her cake and eat it too. The gorilla at Germany's Berlin Zoo recently turned 61 now sharing the record for oldest gorilla with Trudy from the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas, according to the Berlin Zoo's website. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Fatou's zookeepers presented her with a large rice-based birthday cake topped with frosting and fruit.

Fatou begins somewhat cautiously, picking at the strawberries and licking some of the frosting, but then proceeds to pick up the entire cake and shovel in large scoops by the mouthful.

Not a bad way to celebrate.

You can watch the video here.
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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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