40 years have passed since Martin Luther King was shot on the balcony of the Lorraine hotel in Memphis Tennessee. And yet, today, April 4 2008, the words of the slain civil rights leader remain as poignant and applicable as ever.

It is impossible to pick a top 10 list of King’s best quotes, because he delivered hundreds of speeches, thousands of words of brilliance, compassion and love.

Here are 10 quotes which are a sample of the countless amazing quotes of Dr. King. The first excerpt comes from a speech delivered at a sanitation strike in Memphis. He refers to his own probably assassination. Fearless and passionate, King urges us to carry on his struggle towards “the promised land” peace and justice and equality without him.

1. And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say that threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

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On Monday I blogged about 5 songs that had helped shape Civil Rights Movement, and were sung during the rallies, sit ins, marches, arrests and beatings. These songs, often spirituals adapted during or after slavery, had no authors, but belonged to everyone. They were a civil rights soundtrack made of the people, for the people, and by the people. But what about the original songs that were written, composed, performed, and recorded to capture the injustice and racism that made the Civil Rights Movement so urgent? They may be written by songwriters, and not by the people. But they were certainly written for the people. These next songs are 5 of the countless ballads whose poignant lyrics and moving melodies raised awareness, called for action, and helped create that the Civil Rights Movement.

1. Old Man River (1927) was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1927 musical Show Boat and is sung by the character Joe, a black dockworker. But it was Paul Robeson who immortalized the song in the 1936 film version of Show Boat directed by James Whale. Paul Robeson, the singer, actor, athlete, trained lawyer and activist performed the song on countless occasions in recitals all over the world. But he would sing his own version, with his own lyrics which made the character of Joe more empowered and dignified. For example, instead of saying “Tote that barge! Lift that bale! Git a little drunk, An’ you land in jail,” Robeson sang “Tote that barge and lift dat bale! You show a little grit and You lands in jail.” And Robeson replaced “Ah gits weary. An’ sick of tryin’; Ah’m tired of livin, an skeered of dyin. But Ol’ Man River, he jes’ keeps rolling along!” with “But I keeps laffin, Instead of cryin, I must keep fightin; until I’m dyin. And Ol Man River, he’ll just keep rollin’ along!” Although the film was extremely popular, the 1936 version was taken out of circulation because of the black list against Paul Robeson until it debuted on cable television in 1983. Both Show Boat, which was the first integrated musical, and the song Old Man River highlight taboo subjects like passing for white, interracial relationships, and the tragedy of racism.

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The future’s not looking so rosy for some red wines, according to the wine experts who spoke at this weekend’s 2nd Annual Climate Change & Wine Conference in Barcelona. Vintners were warned that some grape varieties will not be able adapt to a hotter climate, according to decanter.com:

Fine wine regions like Bordeaux will cease to be viable as global warming redraws the world wine map, said Australian viticulture specialist Dr Richard Smart.

But while climate change could doom some of France’s most famous wines to extinction, it may be a boon to other countries, including Chile, Argentina, Tasmania, New Zealand, and even China, where Dr. Smart noted that “there was room for growers to move to cooler or higher areas to plant grapes.”

The name “Dr. Smart” may evoke some kind of villainous viticulturalist, but he’s no fan of Frankenfarming, i.e., genetically modified grapes:

‘The research authorities have wasted millions on trying to put a cactus gene in a Chardonnay grape. In 30 years, they expect to have a Chardonnay grape that is adapted to higher temperatures.’

But in my opinion, this will produce nothing but Chardonnay-flavoured tequila.’

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