“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. ”

“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”
― Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

           

“The love that moves the sun and the other stars”

                     A LOVE THAT MOVES THE SUN  :

                     A Memorial Day Tribute and thank you to those we have loved, lost 

                     and  those we have never met.  by Lisa More

                          We are One.

                          I am a part of you.

                          You are a part of me.

                         You are the heart of me who never returned.

                         Standing courageous and brave on a battleship

                         silently waving good-bye to every thing and 

                         every one you ever loved.

                         You are the haunting shadow of the past

                         who chose passion over quiet resistance,

                         who chose noble warrior over gentle stillness.

                          You are the memory that lives in me,

                          selflessly flying missions on the untamed wind,

                          mapping out the intricacies of our future freedom.

             

                          You are a part of me cut open, wounds bleeding

                          heart beating out of your chest with fear,

                          swallowing tears and moving forward into

                          the unknown darkness.

                          We are One.

                          I am a part of you.

                          You are a part of me.

                          We will never glimpse the beauty of the

                          Universe in each others eyes yet

                          every atom we share of our Truth and

                          our legacy gives me the strength to fight for

                          Our peace.

                     

                                                                                

                          

                   

                           

                         

                         

"It's time to begin, isn't it?"

"The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective."- Jon Stewart

        If  you are attending commencement  exercises  for a high school student in 2014 the lucky graduate probably made their debut in 1996 like my adorable nephew Jared. 1996 was the year The New York Yankees won the World Series, The Chicago Bulls were NBA champions and the Dallas Cowboys took home the Super Bowl Trophy.
      "Show me the money."  and "You had me at, "hello"." were the most obnoxiously repeated movie quotes from  "Jerry Maguire" . Tom Cruise was the hottest actor and  the music world mourned the death of rap artist Tupac Shakur. Frank McCourt's  movingly tender account of his mother "Angela's Ashes" was the top selling novel.  Dancing the 'Macarena" at clubs and wedding receptions was mandatory and  Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men reigned on top of the pop charts for over a year with the sentimental power ballad, "One Sweet Day". Now that you feel sufficiently ancient, lets congratulate the class of 2014.
      Jared chose a different Imagine Dragon's song for his blog but "It's Time" seems perfect for students and young people who are about to start a new chapter in their lives. 

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am 

     My nephew has grown up to be an intelligent, hardworking student who excels at almost every endeavor. He is an athlete, musician, comedian, scholar and remains true to himself. These qualities have much to do with his loving, nurturing parents whose combined personalities created a compassionate, caring, individualistic Super Mind. When I discovered the following quote online it reminded me of his Mom and Dad, "I smile because you are my son. I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it."  All of your aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews love you with all our hearts. We couldn't be more proud. Love you.

Congratulations, Jared. You have always been an awesome inspirational force and will continue to be. Carry on.

"And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating"

 Jake:  "Whatcha wanna be married to me for?"

 Melanie: "So I can kiss you any time I want."- Sweet Home Alabama

     

            Congratulations to Season 18 - Dancing with the Stars- Mirror Ball Trophy Champions, professional ice-dancer, Meryl Davis and veteran dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy. The charismatic duo won the hearts of millions who sensed an ensuing hot and heavy chemistry. Like any riveting soap opera, fans excitedly tuned in to speculate a blossoming romance. During a taped rehearsal segment Chmerkovskiy finally admitted what devoted audience members were dying to uncover, "I want to ravage her and have ice-skating, big, Russian, mean babies. We're going to call them Oleg and Boris. Their nicknames are going to be Bear. Both. One nickname for both."

      When would Prince Maks propose? "Probably tomorrow," he joked.

      Of course those who follow the show understand that Maks has a tantalizing history of  falling for his radiant  "stars". Former dance partner and current  DWTS co-host Erin Andews dated  Maks during and after a seasons finale.  He has enchanted colleague's like the beautiful Karina Smirnoff whom he had a long term partnership and briefly dated Australian hottie Peta Murgatroyd.
       Chmerkovskiy was born in Ukraine. His family, including younger brother Val, also a  professional dancer, immigrated to the United States when Maks was still in grades school. In addition to stirring up gossip and whipping up whirl wind romances, Chmerkovskiy owns and operates a dance studio in New York City. The lovely and much envied Meryl Davis is one half of an Olympic ice dancing dream team.  Davis and partner Charlie White were 2014 Olympic Champions, two-time World champions, 2010 Olympic silver medalists and two-time World silver medalists.

        At one time almost my entire family watched and voted for their favorite Dancing With the Stars couple. My niece even made us glittering voting paddles a la DWTS judges Lynn Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli stamped with "10" 's to hold up during the show.  Even though I've missed entire seasons and haven't been able to catch every episode, my family and friends will attest, Maks has always been my favorite dancer. Now my sisters keep me updated and informed.

     As a matter of fact, my sister Laurie will be celebrating a birthday on May 22nd. She is an incredible  teacher, sister, auntie, wife, mother and a true romantic at heart. The video above, "So Close" from the Disney film Enchanted is dedicated to her.  Like many of us she dreams of a world that dances and sings 24/7, a continuous production of Glee, a life as one great big magnificent musical extravaganza. If it could be gift wrapped, it would be given to you. Happy Birthday. Love you. Make a wish.

"Hope is never silent."

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." - Harvey Fierstein (Tony Award winning actor and playwright)

     What's generating all the social media buzz around Arcade Fire's new video for the previously released song "We Exist"?  Could the hype be centered around the handsome star of  The Amazing Spider Man parading about in drag?  Could it be the intriguing video concept that grabs our attention and mesmerizes our imaginations? Or could it be that Arcade Fire has released yet another memorable angst anthem?  British actor Andrew Garfield transforms himself into a super hero of a more profound nature, taking on the role of a young man struggling with gender identity. Originally filmed live during Arcade Fire’s performance at the Coachella Festival in California back in April, the video has recaptured the hearts of Arcade Fire devotees and piqued the interest of thousands of new fans. 

     Although all songs are open to interpretation by the listener and lyrics are subjective; the basic premise of both the song and the video "We Exist" is empowerment. In an interview with Time Out Magazine, Arcade's front man, song writer and lead vocalist Win Butler confirmed, 

        "There’s a song on “Reflektor” called “We Exist”, which is about a gay kid talking to his dad. In dominant cultures there’s what’s normal, and everything else is abnormal. It’s one of the darker tendencies of humanity to think everyone should fit into a mold."  

      Arcade Fire certainly knows a thing or two about maintaining their unique presence in the placating cookie cutter pop music world. They are an excellent example of a rock band that has refused to be bullied by music executives or compromise their distinctive sound. Thankfully, they've remained true to themselves and continue to impress and empower. 

  

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

“To know that you do not know is the best.
To think you know when you do not is a disease.
Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it.”
― Lao Tzu

     

       May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949. Along with traditional therapies many psychologists and researchers continue to document the amazing benefits and healing power of animals. Pets can serve as important sources of social and emotional support for all of us. Individuals facing significant health challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or severe depression have shown significant improvement in overall quality of life from pet companionship. According to research published by the American Psychological Association  pet owners were just as close to key people in their lives as to their animals, indicating no evidence that relationships with pets came at the expense of relationships with other people, or that people relied more on pets when their human social support was poor or unreliable.  The results of the study were reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology^®, published online by APA.

     According to researchers, "  We observed evidence that pet owners fared better, both in terms of well-being outcomes and individual differences, than non-owners on several dimensions,” said lead researcher Allen R. McConnell, PhD, of Miami University in Ohio. “Specifically, pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful and tended to be less preoccupied than non-owners.”

      In the video above, highly decorated U.S Army captain, Luis Montalván would never back down from a challenge serving two tours of duty in Iraq.  However, after returning home from combat, the pain of his physical wounds, traumatic brain injury, and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder ultimately took its toll. Luis Montalvan soon found himself unable to face the challenges of every day life such as climbing stairs or riding a bus to the VA hospital. He began to drink more and more, eventually cutting himself off from all the people he loved. Alone, unable to sleep, alienated and suffering with chronic pain, Luis began to wonder if he would ever recover. PTSD is a debilitating reaction to trauma  that affects a human beings biological and psychological functions. Although not completely understood, those who suffer from PTSD  symptoms have shown incredible response to music, art, and especially companion animal therapy.

     For additional information about Mental Health Awareness Month visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

"The most difficult thing in the world is to reveal yourself..."

"Most people don’t know what they want or feel. And for everyone, myself included, it’s very difficult to say what you mean when what you mean is painful. The most difficult thing in the world is to reveal yourself, to express what you have to… As an artist, I feel that we must try many things – but above all, we must dare to fail. You must have the courage to be bad – to be willing to risk everything to really express it all." – director John Cassavetes (Rosemary's Baby, The Dirty Dozen)

      Do you have a thirst for cinema and a voracious appetite for film?  Get hooked on SnagFilms, a website dedicated to offering advertising-supported documentary and independent films. Films are streamed free on the website, which contains a library of over 5,000 works of art. Filmmakers can submit documentaries at any time for consideration as well. On the site you will find films produced by PBS and National Geographic, on subjects such as The Times of Harvey Milk  and Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me. SnagFilms was founded in 2008 by internet visionary, Ted Leonsis who also owns and operates indieWire the online publication featuring the independent film industry.

      One of the greatest pioneering film directors in cinematic history, John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre) once cast off a key to his creative kingdom,

 " I don’t try to guess what a million people will like. It’s hard enough to know what I like." 

 A priceless gem from the remarkable genius director of Sin City and Machete creator, 

Robert Rodriguez,

" Do not be told something is impossible. There is always a way."

Staying true to artistic vision and insight is what sets most creative people apart from dollar driven Hollywood suits. Produced mostly or completely outside of major studios, independent films allow for comprehensive creative control, uncensored freedom and unapologetic expression. Independent films typically have a lower budget and are often in limited release. With the advent of newer and cheaper technology it's easier than ever before for an aspiring  film maker to produce, edit and distribute a short or full length feature. Although success is sweet, cashing in or selling out isn't the main goal of an indie film.

      What you will  discover on SnagFilms is thousands of  fascinating movies of every genre, short films and documentaries to delight any and all taste buds. The website even offers up shows and mini-series to fulfill marathon movie moments or "binge viewing" weekends. Check out legendary conductor, Leonard Bernstein directing lessons in music theory on Omnibus or watch the incredible Oprah Winfrey in The Women of Brewster Place, a series based on the novel by Gloria Naylor.

       Featured in the video above is two time Leo Award winning and five time documentary nominated film, The Good Son. This feature documentary focuses on former boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini's own personal account of his families history and his own meteoric rise and fall. A tragic battle with fighter  Deuk-Koo Kim would alter Mancini's life forever. The saga of loss and redemption, father's and son's, hope and forgiveness, features actor Mickey Roarke, Ed O'Neil, Sugar Ray Leonard and historic interviews with Kim's own family, including his son, Jiwan Kim. 

The Good Son is currently promoted by SnagFilms and will be available soon.

http://www.snagfilms.com/

"You'll never know how much I miss you."

GLENDA-  A Mother's Day haiku

Your eyes full of love,
burn into the minds of five.
Warm our hearts from inside.

     Among her many loves, music is what burned into my souls memory of Mom. She suffered tremendously at the end of her life. She surrendered to a painful, hard fought battle with cancer the day after my 12th birthday. The morning of her death, preparing to leave for school, as part of our routine since kindergarten she was slathered with good-bye kisses,  " I love you, Mommy."  Walking away, naively believing she would be waiting for my 3:15 pm return to rehash a days adventure, a door closed. A door closed forever. Even though the memory of that twenty-four hours lives on in every cell of my body, it has been refused a power to negate or lessen all the profoundly beautiful moments we bonded as mother and daughter. Being one of her five children, my memories are shared with my sisters and brothers and yet they are distinctly my own. Our perception will never be another persons reality. Our perception is exactly that, ours. No two people will ever experience an event or tell a story in exactly the same way. It's what makes our lives our own extraordinary journey. And for the record, Les, Laurie, Steve and Dave;  Mom always loved me most. (wink). 

     Songs, harmony, melody, lyrics, her voice, the way she moved and swayed when she danced has been seared into my mind. To this day, when one of these cherished songs is heard on the radio or captured online, the floodgates of memory break open wide. During my childhood music constantly played on the stereo, car radio, TV and record players. The soundtrack of Mom's life was downloaded to my brain over twelve years. For this blog there were numerous coveted songs and artists to choose from but the achingly loving sentiment and gorgeous voice of Johnny Mathis says it all. Mom adored him so I grew up loving his music too. She introduced me to The Stylistics, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Led Zepplin, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Elton John, Sonny and Cher, The Fifth Dimension, Mac Davis, and countless other musicians and performers. She had a crush on Bee Gees front man, Barry Gibb. One of the last songs that really touched her heart was, "How Deep is Your Love".

      "You'll Never Know" goes out to my brothers and sisters and especially to all children who have lost their mothers far too young. Life is just a moment in Time. You can't change events from the past. You can't go back. You can't live there either. Acceptance of the past allows you to move forward and live in the present. The greatest gift you can give your mother is to live a happy, peaceful, loving life in the present moment. Be here now. 

                                                                                      With love and peace always,

                                                                                                                       Lisa

"Looking for the moon, it is here in this wave and the next."

"The moon, like you,
is far away from me, but it's our sole memento:
if you look and recall our past through it,
we can be one mind."

-  Saigo

   Awesome Nightfall

TWENTY-FOUR BRAND-NEW HOURS
By Thich Nhat Hanh

"Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others. 

Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The Question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We don't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child. Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy.
We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive at the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.
Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment. ...""

"Everything that's difficult, you should be able to laugh about."

*"A woman saying "yes" to a date with a man is literally insane and ill-advised, and the whole species' existence counts on them doing it. ...how do women still go out with guys, when you consider the fact that there is no greater threat to women than men? We're the number one threat to women. Globally and historically, we're the number one cause of injury and mayhem to women. We're the worst thing that ever happens to them. That's true! You know what our number one threat is? Heart disease."- Louis CK *

     The wait is  finally over.  "Louie" is  back at last on  FX . End your Cinco de Mayo festivities by tuning in Monday May 5th at 10pm EST. Louis C.K. returns to television after a lengthy hiatus completing among other projects, Oscar winning movie, Blue Jasmine and notably appearing  as a budget conscious FBI director in David O. Russell's, American Hustle. No stranger to accolades himself, the clever, original  writing and performing of C.K. on the much loved "Louie" has garnered this sensationally seasoned comic, director and producer a number of Emmy Awards. 

As the "every man'" philosopher and the attentive, observant father, Louie, the character is off beat, intelligent and somewhat neurotic. He allows us to ponder our own existence every episode from start to finish. Louis C.K., the comedian and writer evokes the same kind of humorous reflection in his stand-up audiences.

 ""I'm bored" is a useless thing to say. I mean, you live in a great, big, vast world that you've seen none percent of. Even the inside of your own mind is endless, it goes on forever, inwardly, do you understand? The fact that you're alive is amazing, so you don't get to say, " I'm bored".

-Louis C.K.

 Genius.

“Sometimes those who give the most are the ones with the least to spare.”

“ Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit."- Bernard Williams

Know the difference between FLOOD WATCHES and WARNINGS-Your life and and the lives of others depend upon swift and effective action. In a weather emergency it is imperative to have an action plan. When emergency bulletins are issued pay close attention to details provided. The time to prepare is now.

Flash Flood WATCH- flooding or "flash" flooding is possible

Flood /FLASH FLOOD WARNING- flooding or flash flooding WILL occur in your area

STAY AWAY from flood waters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is ABOVE your ankles, STOP, turn around and go another way. As little as six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet. 

IF YOU ARE IN A VEHICLE- If you come upon a flooded road while driving, STOP, turn around and go another way

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT ON A FLOODED  ROAD and waters are rising rapidly around you, GET OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by LESS THAN TWO FEET of moving water. 


 REMEMBER- Drivers must be especially cautious at night. Flood dangers are more difficult to recognize. Check your local conditions at the National Weather Service website http://www.weather.gov/ or check the WEATHER CHANNEL

As severe weather continues across the South and Midwest, many organizations such as the Red Cross, Team Rubicon http://teamrubiconusa.org/ and animal welfare- rescue groups such as the ASPCA
http://www.aspca.org/ and the The Humane Society of the United States http://www.humanesociety.org/ have crews on the ground right now.

 Please do what you can to help. One day the life saved or the animal rescued may be your own. For more information please visit their websites. Prepare for severe weather with special phone apps from the Red Cross

      http://www.redcross.org/




                                                               

" the rainbow connection..the lovers, the dreamers and me.."

“Creativity takes courage. ”

― Henri Matisse

      Have you ever imagined what color you would be if you were a crayon or colored marker? Have you ever thought what a responsibility it must be to shade every Valentines Day heart or Santa Claus hat? What if your career depended upon keeping  fluffy clouds milky white or the sky a brilliant blue?

  Mmmmm- imagine life as a crayon. What hue are you?

 What are the top selling children's picture books under the reading rainbow this week? No surprise the number one best selling tale has spent over forty-two weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers List. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT written by Drew Daywalt with illustrations by Oliver Jeffers has captured the hearts and imaginations of children aged 3 to 103. The forty page beautifully designed book is recommended for pre-school children but all readers and listeners will be enthralled by the way crayons magically come alive with feeling and emotion. Each color delightfully addresses their own personal issues. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT has been highly recommended for and by parents, teachers

 and care-givers.

Among the best selling children's books this week is Mo Willems persuasive story of a filthy bird who needs to take the plunge in THE PIGEON NEEDS A BATH and author Adam Rubin's deliciously fun, DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.

 HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS, by Todd and Sonja Burpoi llustrated by Wilson Ong is the children's version of an adult novel vividly describing a moving religious encounter. 

You will love reading GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE, by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld as a bed time story as the rhythm and flow of the words will gently turn off the motor of every childs eventful evening while wishing a "goodnight" to dozing machines. 

Speaking of machines, LOCOMOTIVE by Brian Floca celebrates vehicles that mesmerize young readers.  Winner of the 2014 Caldecott Medal, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, and a New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2013 selection; "Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11," also a Sibert Honor Book and New York Times Best Illustrated Book; "Lightship," a Sibert Honor Book; and "The Racecar Alphabet" and "Five Trucks." The talented Floca is also the illustrator of Avi's popular Poppy Stories, Kate Messner's three Marty McGuire novels, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan's "Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring" (a Sibert Honor Book and winner of the Orbis Pictus Award).

Other books rounding out the top sellers list are:

HERE COMES THE EASTER CAT, by Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Claudia Rueda the story of a crazy kitty seeking holiday glory. 

JOURNEY, by Aaron Becker. A gripping journey of a lonely little girl who draws a red door on her bedroom wall and enters an imaginary world.

PRESS HERE, by Hervé Tullet.  The story of dancing color.

 And  a tale of "here comes the bride", Jane O'Connor's

FANCY NANCY AND THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY, iillustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. 

Remember, nothing says "I LOVE YOU" like reading with children or providing them with books. You are helping them develop the most precious life skill, handing them keys to unlock doors of creativity and knowledge, making their own possibilities endless.

            

"running on the ancient paths, we remember who we are...."

“Often, the greater our ignorance about something, the greater our resistance to change.” ― Marc Bekoff, Animals Matter: A Biologist Explains Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect

The ASPCA has designated April 26th as National Help a Horse Day. For events in your own state please refer to the ASPCA website. http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/equine-cruelty/national-help-horse-day-april-26

Ten Facts About Horses You May Not Know... but you do now.

10.  The first horses appeared around 4,500 years ago in the form of what we now refer to as Arabian horses.

9. The ASPCA Equine Fund is running a Help a Horse Day Celebration Contest and will award $10,000 grants to the top five equine organizations whose events inspire the most community engagement and support.

8   Just like My Little Pony, real horses can sleep standing up or lying down.

7. Nine million horses call America home. There are approximately 58 million horses around the globe. The vast majority of horses are cared for by humans.

6. Horses are intelligent and sensitive animals with excellent memories. Similar to our canine friends if horses are not properly stimulated or left alone too long they are liable to create some attention seeking mischief. (Mr. Ed stole Rosetta Stone.)

5. Baby horses are called foals. Generally born in the night, within an hour of their birth, foals can stand up. Foals can start running almost immediately after their birth. Imagine if human babies could walk an hour after a mother delivers!

4. A horse is a horse of course, of course. If you want to know a horses age don't nag, look at its teeth.

3. Native Americans have always honored and revered the beautiful majesty of their horses. Poems and art work pay stunning tribute to these gorgeous animals. Owning and caring for a horse is sacred.

2.  Believe it or not, before horses were reintroduced to the North American continent by the Spanish, dogs were the only pack animals on the plains. The harnesses and equipment originally designed for dogs were easily adapted to horses. Horses could carry much larger loads than a dog. So equines were used for transporting greater quantities of goods and dogs became our lovable Best Friends!

1. Movies about heroic horses are a popular genre. Some famous movie horses you may recognize are Black Beauty, Flicka, National Velvet, Seabiscuit  and Secretariat. Please, celebrate, educate and find a way to honor the strength, majesty and contributions of the horse to human kinds history. 

They need you.

SONG FOR THE HORSES by Sheri Rene Watson, USA

http://www.voicesnet.org/displayonepoem.aspx?poemid=65313

"Roads go ever ever on, under cloud and under star."

"I'm the frosting on America's cake, and tonight I'm willing to let you lick the bowl."- Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report.

       Legendary Late Show host David Letterman will welcome his successor, Stephen Colbert as guest on the show airing Tuesday April 22nd 11:30 pm EST on CBS. Colbert was chosen to captain the Late Show beginning in 2015 after Letterman announced his retirement last week. Colbert lovingly describes his admiration for Letterman in the video clip above recounting staying up late and absorbing more knowledge from watching Letterman's show than attending class. He was learning his craft from a master and Colbert became one hell of a disciple.

     The 1.9 million members of the Colbert Nation who pledge their allegiance four nights a week to the Colbert Report would have absolutely no difficulty providing the uninitiated "Top Ten Reasons to Adore Stephen Colbert." It's a bittersweet announcement for those who must choose their time and entertainment programs wisely, where the other thirty minutes is typically devoted to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Speaking of learning more from parody and satire than coursework, a few years ago Pew Research Center discovered that more than 50% of voters aged 18-25 receive the majority of their understanding of our government and current events from the Colbert Report and The Daily Show. Viewers of all ages have been schooled in the complexity of Super-PACS,  their elected officials with Better Know a District,  womens and gay rights issues, the wonders of the universe with Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson and introduced to progressive thinkers and leaders like author and CEO of the Mission Continues, Eric Greitens.

      Those of us who love Colbert the actor/comedian have observed his inevitable emergence from  Strangers with Candy's,  Flatpoint High School history teacher Chuck Noblet and one half of dueling Daily Show corespondents, Even Stephven. We have poured over the literary masterpieces, I Am America ( and So Can You), America Again, I Am a Pole and So Can You and hell we even relish Tek Jansen.  After truly enjoying the incredible talent and amazing intellect of Colbert's rise and reign for over ten years his loyal fans already know like any great Hobbit, new adventures await and there is nothing he can't do.




Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law, Chuck.

"We are our choices."

“It is not for me to judge another man's life. I must judge, I must choose, I must spurn, purely for myself. For myself, alone.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

     Every life is a voyage. Choose your path. The highly anticipated film, Locke written by esteemed British director, Steven Knight opens in theaters worldwide on April 25th. Knight was Oscar nominated in 2003 for Dirty Pretty Things and has written a screenplay for which Hollywood royalty, Steven Spielberg will be producing soon. Knight and his daring narrative Locke have been generating buzz for its artistic use of light and reflection inside of a confined space and garnered praise for a brilliantly unique solo performance. If you're going to fully focus your attention on one actor for 85 minutes you cannot do better than the devastatingly handsome and genuinely talented English actor, Tom Hardy. Hardy plays Ivan Locke, a successful construction manager whose life drastically unravels with a series of phone calls while he drives on an unforgettable journey. With an innovative and gripping script audiences will be captivated by Tom Hardy's passionate range of emotions. Known most recently for his portrayal as the beefed up Batman nemesis,  Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, Hardy continues to elaborate on quite an impressive resume with film roles in Christopher Nolan's 2010 science-fiction heist epic, Inception, as a former US Marine and MMA fighter in Warrior and playing opposite his acting hero Gary Oldman in 2011's cold war espionage film Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. 

      Locke has already received critical acclaim ahead of its release in the UK and it won best screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards, with Hardy receiving a nomination for best actor. "An exceptional one-man show for Tom Hardy, this ingeniously executed study in cinematic minimalism has depth, beauty and poise," said Lesie Felperin of Variety.  Few actors can completely mesmerize an audience with their presence alone but Hardy brings the goods and has the cojones.

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”

“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible”
― Vince Lombardi

     What is charisma? As defined by Merriam-Webster Online, the true definition of charisma is- a special charm or appeal that causes people to feel excited or attracted by someone, a special undefinable magnetism. Who has undeniable charisma? Former President Bill Clinton is an appropriate example of a politician who exudes Southern charm and leadership. Actors Carey Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Sidney Poitier still attract film audiences with their unparalleled talent and timeless grace. When we collectively sense someone has "IT" we are talking about the same alluring quality which attracts us even when we're unable to clearly define what "IT" is. Critique the new Ivan Reitman ( producer of Up in the Air, I Love You Man) directed film, Draft Day however your heart desires but there is no denying that actor, director and musician Kevin Costner radiates charisma. At 59 he is just as sexy and captivating in his role as Sonny Weaver Jr. as he was in Bull Durham, Tin Cup and Hatfields and McCoys. Yes, Kevin Costner is featured in yet another sports related film but before you roll your eyes, he does manage to breathe life into a surprisingly low impact NFL advertisement.  Uneasy friction and witty banter collide as co-stars, tenaciously beautiful Jennifer Garner, cocky yet endearing, Dennis Leary and versatile veteran actor Frank Langella keep us stimulated.

     If you grew up in northern Ohio you will appreciate the Cleveland Browns sports history references. The screenplay was written by playwright Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger) and newcomer Scott Rothman. Is there any other team in the NFL more deserving of Rudy-esque underdog, triumph over adversity status elevation? Ask the exceedingly determined and loyal " Dawg Pound" what they think of Draft Day. The die-hard Dawgs never dreamed of trading their brown and orange jersey's for a Pittsburgh Steelers, Terrible Towel like half of the fans who abandoned the Browns. Cleveland continues to dream of a championship season in ANY of their professional franchises from the Cavaliers to the beloved Indians. As celebrated football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible” 

       Draft Day scores an extra point for Reitmans fabulous direction plus families (PG-13) will enjoy being surprised by myriad guest appearances. As a birthday present  for my brother I would watch it again so we could share a laugh over Brownie bashing. Seriously, what more do you need? With its creative casting, clever charm and Costner's charisma, it's definitely hot in Cleveland. Draft Day may not charge down field to a legendary sports movie Super Bowl end zone but it does score a touchdown for good entertainment.

"Everything is everything...."

“The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

      Hosted by renowned astrophysicist, Neil de Grasse Tyson,  "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.  Often containing additional material,  the show will be rebroadcast on the National Geographic Channel. Check local listings. To catch up on previously aired episodes of "Cosmos" you can watch free via Hulu..

     How detrimental  is our understanding of modern science for civilization to thrive and survive? Without the discovery of quantum mechanics in the 1920's YOU wouldn't be reading this blog on a computer, tablet, iPhone or even have the ability to view Cosmos on television.  Without our passion and thirst for knowledge of ourselves and the universe none of the technological devices we take for granted everyday would have been invented. What is one astounding fact about the cosmos that fascinates Dr.Neil de Grasse Tyson and millions of human beings? Watch the mind blowing clip above while putting yourself  and your life in perspective. Enjoy your day.  There will never be another day like this day.....EVER.

“You are a function of what the whole universe is doing in the same way that a wave is a function of what the whole ocean is doing.”
― Alan  Watts

"faithful and true, to the last beat of their heart"

“ Of all the creatures ever made (man) is the most detestable. Of the entire brood, he is the only one... that possesses malice. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.” ― Mark Twain

http://www.aspca.org/dogfighting

    The ASPCA has designated April 8th as National Dog Fighting Awareness Day. Animal lovers, owners, advocates and friends from around the globe are encouraged to share resources, solutions and valuable educational information about the illegal practice of dog fighting. You can join the live conversation online at Google Hangout moderated by ABC News journalist and author of "10% Happier", Dan Harris.   RSVP here.http://www.aspca.org/dogfighting

     Dog fighting is a felony is all 50 states and the District of Columbia. So while criminals are viciously fighting animals to their death for profit, local and federal law enforcement, the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and thousands of local rescue operations are fighting for justice.

 If you witness a dogfight in progress call 911 Emergency, immediately. Dog fighting is a deadly crime.

 Currently, the ASPCA and other animal rights advocates worked with Congress to enact legislation making it a federal crime to even attend or bring a minor to any organized animal fighting event. Making attendance a felony is a tremendous victory for innocent animals forced to participate in a barbaric blood "sport". Along with 367 pit bulls, officials in a recent national raid were able to seize narcotics, drug paraphernalia, weapons and 500,000 dollars cash used for gambling. The sweep was the result of a four year multi-state investigation.

When you suspect evidence of dog fighting there is a 99% chance other illegal activity will be discovered within an operation. What do you look for in your own community as evidence of dog fighting? What can you do if you believe its happening in your own backyard? What can you do if you know of or see a dog being chained or tethered and in obvious distress?
Contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
Contact your local law enforcement
Call your local animal control or humane officers

Below is a link to a list of TEN COMMON WARNING signs of dog fighting compiled from resources including the ASPCA, HSUS, law enforcement and various animal welfare organizations.
http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/Unchained-10-Ways-to-Indentify-Dog-Fighting

Together, we can stop animal abuse.

“If people were Superior to Animals, they'd take better care of the world”

“We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that the animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves.”
― César Chávez

April is Animal Cruelty Prevention Month. Even though awareness has grown, strict laws have been enacted and more severe punishments have been enforced over the past few decades there is still a tremendous amount of educational support needed in the prevention of animal cruelty. We understand that greed is motivation for dog fighting and puppy mills but what mind set or lack of emotion enables human beings to inflict pain, torture or completely neglect an animal?  Why do humans continue to abuse animals? 

"One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it." -Anthropologist Margaret Mead

  What are the characteristics of an animal abuser?     
Abuse and neglect of animals is not just a mere "character flaw" or an act to be taken lightly. Abusing animals starts early in life and with proper intervention can be prevented. Without intervention you may be allowing an animal to suffer or die. In assessing youth at risk or those who have the potential to become violent, the U.S. Department of Justice stresses a history of animal abuse. Sadly, animal abuse is often learned and accepted in the child's life. Children have been taught that animals don't suffer or feel pain the way humans do. Children who fail to develop empathy will abuse. In some but not all animal abuse cases the adult or child was abused themselves. The FBI sees animal cruelty as a predictor of violence against people and considers past animal abuse when profiling serial killers.

 Typically, animal abusers are aggressive or posses a violent and/or sadistic streak.  Overly aggressive personalities are often fearful people. This type of abuser may have an imbalance; feeling either inferior or superior to others. In order to gain a sense of power or domination they may strike a defenseless animal, keep them in cages for an excessive amount of time, punish them for relieving themselves, deny them food, water, exercise or deny any type of physical petting or affection. If you notice that another human being is cruelly teasing, childishly displaying excessive jealously or acting aggressively towards your pet, seek help immediately. Would you want this person around your children or other loved ones?

Neglect is a form of abuse.

Abuse encompasses much more than slapping, hitting and displaying acts of violence. Neglect is another form of abuse. Animals depend on us for their survival and well being. When we adopt a cat or dog and bring them into our home we should love them as much as we do any other family member. An animal depends on us for their medical treatment, shelter, food, water, grooming and physical/mental stimulation. Caging or chaining an animal for more than eight hours at a time is not only excessive, it's neglect. Keeping an animal outside 24/7 with little or no shelter is neglect. Failure to properly nourish, supply fresh, clean water or provide adequate exercise for your pet is neglect. There are millions of  hard working people with honorable intentions who adopt or rescue pets with the heroic thought they are "saving" an animals life. Ask yourself this question, a question you would ask parents of  their children: "What kind of life are you providing  if you don't love or care enough to pay attention to their needs?"

What do you do if you suspect animal abuse?

If you suspect there is a puppy mill operating in your area, a shop selling puppy mill animals,  dog fighting, abuse or neglect of animals in your neighborhood, contact your local law enforcement or animal control. Don't be afraid to speak up. We truly are an animals only voice. Document times, locations, and all details of the alleged abuse. If possible provide photographic or video evidence of a crime. Ending animal suffering is up to you, not only in the month of April but now and forever..

" But everybody knows that a broken heart is blind..."

"Fever, where'd you run to?
 Fever, where'd you run to?
 Acting right is so routine
 Fever, let me live a dream."

     What do Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, Guided by Voices, Devo, Twenty One Pilots, the Black Keys and me have in common?  Besides sharing an intense love of music we are all products of the Midwest's most misunderstood area. Ohio is the broken heart shaped state of America's depressed industrial and automotive manufacturing Golden Era, symbolizing our countries lost, wandering soul, Goth/Emo teen aged persona. Ohio may be cold, dark and dreary at times but the winter seclusion of harsh hibernation has spawned some pretty amazing artists. Along the snow and ice covered shores of Lake Erie in the Northeast, Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame http://www.rockhall.com/.   Once famous for its rubber tire plants, near-by Akron, Ohio notably rolled off the production line one of  the most talented and respected independent/indie/alternative/rock bands in the world, The Black Keys. The Black Keys lead vocalist, musician, guitarist, lyricist, Dan Auerbach and the multi-talented percussionist, writer, and ten foot tall, Patrick Carney joined forces in 2001 to create The Big Come Up (2002). The Big Come Up was only the first of many collaborations for the darling duo including Brothers (2010) and their most commercially successful release to date,  El Camino (2011). There isn't one alternative rock music connoisseur who doesn't have the Grammy and BRIT Award winning, Black Keys CD or download in their collection.
     The Black Keys eighth album, Turn Blue has been anxiously anticipated by fans and critics alike. Turn Blue  will be released in its entirety on May 12th, 2014. The audio/ video slice above is a deliciously edgy taste of much needed medicine. So if you have a "Fever" this is your only prescription for now.
   

“Oh, please don't go—we'll eat you up—we love you so!”

“And now," cried Max, "let the wild rumpus start!”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

http://www.cc.com/shows/-midnight

           @midnight is an American pop culture, internet-themed panel show hosted by the charismatic comedian, Chris Hardwick on Comedy Central.  @midnight posed a riotous question during their thought provoking  #HASHTAG WAR segment last evening. Highly creative and obviously literate audience members tweeted a barrage of rapid fire responses in one of the most popular worldwide trending Twitter subjects so far this year- How do you "Ruin a children's book"?  Crazy, corrupted, amusing and slightly naughty adult altered children's book titles were tweeted  with a feverish ferocity from all  over the globe. (including Turkey).  The adorable misadventures of a mischievous monkey in Hans and Margret Rey's,  Curious George -became even more titillating in the tale of a sexually confused banana hoarding,  Bi-Curious George. Prepare to have your fondest childhood memories slightly skewed as you read on:

Green Eggs and Salmonella

Green Eggs and Spam

Green Eggs and Locally Sourced Grass Fed Humane Slaughter Free Market Ham  @hasslehoford

Dead Cat in the Hat   @dimestoreninja 

The Shat in the Hat

  

Bi-Polar Express- (by many)

Charlotte's Web of Lies  @rumbleskillz or 

Charlotte's Webcam

The Very Horny Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar has an Eating Disorder

Troll Cat in the Hat   @fakealanbostick

The Jungle Warfare Guide Book  @makiatoe

The Jungle Book of Mormon   @phanxjey

Horton Hires a Ho

Horton Hears Domestic Violence in the Apartment Next Door

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Rash

Harriet the NSA Spy

Winnie the Poop

Anne of Gangrene Gables @Adam Reakes

Charlie and the Methamphetamine Factory

Charlie and the Cocaine Factory

The Babysitter's Fight Club

The Lion, the Witch and the IKEA Wardrobe

Are You There, God? It's Me, Madonna

Are You There, God? It's Me, Jake from State Farm

The Boy Who Cried Wolf of Wall Street.

Where'd Waldo Touch You?  @Tycaseydoe

Oliver Nipple Twist

James and the Giant Peach Schnapps

James and the Giant Peach Shaped Tumor

James and the Giant Peen

Goodnight, Moonshine

The Secret of Nympho

The Secret Garden of Weed

Oh, the Places You'll Go When You Get in My Van  

Harry Pot Head and the Philosophers Stoned

The Wizard of 40 oz.

The Grinch That Stole My Virginity

Are You My Mother? No, You're Sober  @joshacagan

Little House in the Projects

You're a Good Man, Charlie Sheen