Friday, July 31, 2009

Who Can You Trust...


Two Ohio police chiefs suspected of masterminding a break-in at the home of a surrogate mother for Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have been arrested on undisclosed charges. Reports are that the men planned to snoop and obtain tabloid fodder to later sell for personal profit.


Even though SJP and Broderick are celebrities, they are also taxpaying, hard-working, citizens who put trust in our law enforcement just as you and I do. Their rights and trust in the law have been compromised.


I remember as a child, my parents always taught me to respect my teachers, elders, and law enforcement. It makes me sad that there are such corrupt people who work for these institutions. It often seems as though our children have no one to look up to in their young lives anymore.


While I still hold a huge amount of respect and admire the women and men who protect and serve, I also know that money talks, and drives people to do things that go against their morals.


Let's try and remember that trust, faith, and service to others is worth so much more than the mighty dollar.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka...

Happy 50th Birthday to one of my favorite musicians: KATE BUSH




"And if I only could, make a deal with God, and get him to swap our places, be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up that building..."

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Truth Is Out There...

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration turns 51 years old today. Since its inception in 1958, NASA has accomplished many great scientific and technological advances in air and space. NASA remains the leading force in scientific research and in sparking public interest in space exploration, as well as science and technology in general. Space exploration has taught us to view Earth, ourselves, and the universe in a new way. The tremendous accomplishments of NASA demonstrate vividly that humans can achieve previously inconceivable feats, with the realization that Earth is just a tiny "blue marble" in the cosmos.
Who knows what discoveries are in store for us? Will we eventually find intelligent life forms other than ourselves out there someday? Will they be a kind race, or an evil dominating force that will destroy us upon discovery? When I think of space travel and other worlds beyond our own, I get as excited as a schoolboy, fascinated with the possibilities of what is out there.
"The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever"
~Konstantin Tsiolkovsky~

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I Pray for Jackie's Strength...

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was born 80 years ago today. She was beautiful, charming, talented, gifted, and immensely respected worldwide. Every woman in America wanted to look like her and her taste in fashion quickly became the national standard. Although "Jackie," as she was called, professed no particular interest in politics, she quickly became a major asset to her ambitious husband.
She traveled around the world as First Lady and impressed many dignitaries with her knowledge of foreign languages. The American public was charmed by the sweet-voiced Jackie who led them on a televised tour of the White House to show off its treasures.
Above all else, Jacqueline Kennedy was devoted to her children. Mrs. Kennedy once said, "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much." The nation grieved along with the First Family when the Kennedys' third child died shortly after birth in 1963. But there was even greater grief yet to come. On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. The nation watched transfixed as the young widow led her family and the world in mourning the fallen president. Through her amazing courage and strength she mustered after this tragic loss, she helped the country mourn the loss of one of the greatest American Presdient's ever to live. This woman can remind us all that through any sort of tragedy or loss, we must find the strength to move on, and use the pain to channel goddness and hope.


To honor the life and legacy of Jackie, I have included Tori Amos singing JACKIE'S STRENGTH:


"A Bouvier 'til her wedding day, shots rang out, the police came. Mama layed me on the front lawn and prayed for Jackie's stregth."

Monday, July 27, 2009

All Work and No Play...

One of my all-time favorite filmmakers, Stanley Kubrick, would have celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday had it not been for a fatal heart attack ten years ago. Through his films he sparked controversy, while also providing an intimate and touching look into the human psyche. He has garnered many awards and is considered one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time. Kubrick's legacy will forever live on in his wonderfully crafted and memorable works. Included are the trailers of my three favorite Kubrick masterpieces:



"I would not think of quarreling with your interpretation nor offering any other, as I have found it always the best policy to allow the film to speak for itself."
~Stanley Kubrick~

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy...

Howdy Partner! Today is National Day of the Cowboy. Being raised in Arizona and having parents who took my sister and I on numerous "educational summer vacations" around the southwest to monuments, ruins, and tourist traps, I have much respect for this idea. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to contribute to the preservation of America's Cowboy heritage. The National Day of the Cowboy organization was founded in June 2005, working continuously to increase national support so that active participation in celebration of the National Day of the Cowboy continues to grow each year, and so future generations remain aware of the Cowboys' contribution to America's rich Western heritage.
Please visit http://www.nationaldayofthecowboy.com/ for more information about this organization or http://www.thewildwest.org/ to learn more about Wild West culture and historical events.
Now, a look at some of my most favorite Wild West legends:
BILLY THE KID (1859-1881)

JESSE JAMES (1847-1882)

CALAMITY JANE (1853-1903)

ANNIE OAKLEY (1860-1926)

WYATT EARP (1848-1929)

AND MY FAVORITE COWBOY OF ALL TIME:

Joshua Silvia (1979- )

YEE-HAW!!!

Friday, July 24, 2009

This Woman's Work...

Watching the television show So You Think You Can Dance a few nights ago brought me back to a place I never wanted to return to: my mother's battle with breast cancer. This was a very trying time for my family, which brought on more than just the cancer to fight off. I won't go into the private details of it all, but my family almost fell apart. Through my mother's strength, faith, and hope, she overcame this horrible terror and weathered all of the additonal storms that had clouded her life. She is a strong, patient, and forgiving woman. This video is a tribute to her:



"Pray God you can cope. I stand outside. This woman's work. This woman's world...I know you've got a little life in you yet. I know you've got a lot of strength left."