wow..has CC become the new facebook?

Parent Cafe
1021

<p>I just hit up dowzerw, JuniorMint, and **LoremIpsum<a href=“I%20tried%20some%20others%20but%20it%20wouldn’t%20let%20me”>/b</a>.</p>

<p>=)</p>

1022

<p>Many of you may have seen this video at some point – it’s a few years old but I just rediscovered it today and, as always, it made me smile. A lot.</p>

<p>A little background: I have traveled a lot over the years – to 69 different countries on six continents and back to some of them 3 and 4 times. During these adventures, I was constantly impressed at how willing locals were to go out of their way to help a traveler in need. I was helped while penniless after a pickpocketing; assisted in finding my lost passport; had money returned to me by the next passenger after exiting a cab; got follow-me directions and accepted rides; plus had locals stand up for me when scammers tried to rip me off. Most of the time they refused any payment or gratuity even in places where five bucks can be a day’s wage.</p>

<p>The people of the world are, all in all, good-hearted everywhere. We too often forget that when we only see bad stories on the news. </p>

<p>So this video was made by a kid who can’t dance worth beans and has somehow turned his lack of skill into earning a living and an opportunity to see even the most remote places on the planet. His first video was just something he assembled from his own travels, but he put it up on youtube during the early days. An executive at a gum company decided to spend part of their promotional budget on paying his way around the world for a sequel, in exchange for a little blurb at the end. Since this video has been viewed 44 million times already, I’d say the gum company more than got its money’s worth.</p>

<p>As the views on youtube spread, so did invitations to come and visit, from across the globe. Local volunteers organized groups of volunteers – sometimes in the hundreds – to show up at specific locations at specific times for what amounts to 5 seconds of video each. All just to be silly on camera and have fun.</p>

<p>I present to you 5 minutes of globe-hopping joy by someone who has unofficially become American’s ambassador to the world:</p>

<p>[Where</a> the Hell is Matt? 2008 - YouTube](<a href=“Where the Hell is Matt? 2008 - YouTube”>Where the Hell is Matt? 2008 - YouTube)</p>

<p>Even if you’ve seen that one before, a new one was released earlier this year, with even larger and more diverse crowds:</p>

<p>[Where</a> the Hell is Matt? 2012 - YouTube](<a href=“Where the Hell is Matt? 2012 - YouTube”>Where the Hell is Matt? 2012 - YouTube)</p>

<p>Please pass it on to anyone who could use a quick cheering up. And anyone who tries to tell you: “They hate us because we’re American.”</p>

1023

<p>Thank you for posting that link, Lorem. It brought a smile to my face. I’ve been struggling to smile today - the news from CT hit me particularly hard.</p>

<p>Woohoo - jym, you gave me another light green square! Another smile. Thanks!</p>

1024

<p>Where the Hell is Matt is my go to video for when I am down. I honestly believe that he has helped make the world a better place by showing that we are all the same even though we are different.</p>

<p>Got you again, Soccerguy!</p>

1025

<p>Mo gave me some points today. I wonder who Mo is? Is that short for Moreover?</p>

1026

<p>^ Yes, MO is Moreover.</p>

1027

<p>Thanks blue!</p>

1028

<p>You are welcome, 12rmh. Just got onward another greenie box too.
Alas, I’ve not received any more since this morning :(</p>

1029

<p>Was able to rep a few tonight!</p>

1030

<p>I’m spreading Matt’s video! :)</p>

1031

<p>Thanks for Matt’s video. I’ve been avoiding the news this weekend and trying to keep in the Christmas spirit with the family close.</p>

<p>Green sprinkles should be recharged soon! Who’s needs a little green love?</p>

1032

<p>me! me! me! (why not??!!)
please.</p>

1033

<p>It still wont let me give more tonight but I am sure I can receive.</p>

1034

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<p>Well, the two moms right above you are recent guests here and appear to be lagging compared to many of us.</p>

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<p>But I thought it was better to give?</p>

1035

<p>Love to you Onward, dowzerw and blueiggy! Sorry jym…I have to visit others!</p>

1036

<p>I’ll help out the other Mom’s when my power is restored!</p>

1037

<p>I got soccerguy, sherpa and mamabear1234 - more tomorrow night :D</p>

1038

<p>More smiles, stolen from a clever chance-me thread where the student was offering bribes of cute kitties and science jokes.</p>

<p>Cats:</p>

<p><a href=“http://i.imgur.com/zF7xn.jpg[/url]”>http://i.imgur.com/zF7xn.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://i.imgur.com/qoXgw.jpg[/url]”>http://i.imgur.com/qoXgw.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://i.imgur.com/sewxI.jpg[/url]”>http://i.imgur.com/sewxI.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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1039

<p>LI, my vote for most entertaining poster on the board, tonight. Laugh out loud funny.</p>

1040

<p>Those Matt videos are pretty amazing! Seems like he’s having such a wonderful time doing his dancing and travel all over the world.</p>