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If you ever wonder what the youth of America are up to when adults have their backs turned, just go to YouTube.com. Like MySpace, the site's aptly named--unlike the Friendster for kids site, though, YouTube--which lets anyone post self-created or 'found' video--will generally leave you shaking your head in admiration.

Hard to believe that a generation that can't spell and doesn't know there's another George Bush can produce such interesting and creative videos. Then again, it makes sense--adults are always surprised by what great things kids can do when left to their own devices, it's almost like we've forgotten what it was like to have oodles of free time and unlimited energy.

Adults are on YouTube too, of course, although most of what they post tends to be works created by other (more talented) adults, i.e. piracy. Then again, given I'd never have thought to have bought any of these videos even if I knew they existed, it's hard to see who's harmed.

Amazing things kids did-
-A school talent show, some freakily gifted kids: the Robot Video


-This is the new generation Asian American: Urban Ninja


-Classical music in the age of rock: Pachabel's Canon


-She's dangerous: Knife Skills



Great adult performances
-Video of Faye Wong, one of my favorite Chinese singers, singing Dreams by the Cranberries


-The Cranberries singing Dreams (it's a great song)


-Bob Dylan singing Girl of the North Country; may as well be from a different planet, it's so unexpectedly--authentic? innocent?


-A funny version of the Tokens' In the Jungle


-It'll break your heart, one of my favorite singers/songs: Iris Dement, Our Town