Maori girls have been singing our songs of freedom for centuries in Aotearoa, New Zealand – long before Christopher Colombus put one Spanish slippered foot on American soil. Here’s one such Maori girl in action on the far left, continuing the spirit of these fine traditions and songs of freedom. :)
~Thank you H. Mauri ‘Ola. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 4.4.11~
Posted by horiwood on April 5, 2011 in A Different View, Aotearoa New Zealand, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech, Heritage Arts & Culture, Kaitiakitanga, Live Music Artists, Maori, Music Industry News, New Zealand, Polynesian, Song Writers, South Pacific, Tino Rangatiratanga
That doesn’t mean my love somehow diminished… when the words destroy all meaning–Chris Knox, songwriter extraordinaire reminds us in a song to love in noble actions as well as the illusive promises of written and oratory breathed words alone.
___
There’s nothing like a Pearl Jam artist of Southern California, via Seattle who writes of Ukelele Songs and Into the Wild and Water on The Road, singing with New Zealand’s future generations of cultural leaders strumming up a storm and singing a song penned by a great, Chris Knox.
Here’s Eddie Vedder singing Not Given Lightly. Neil and Liam Finn celebrate this song with Eddie too.
Press play to enjoy. Mauri ‘Ola Chris Knox and the USA and South Pacific Island dwelling friends.
~ This clip of guitars in action posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 4.1.11~
Posted by horiwood on April 2, 2011 in California, Chris Knox, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Eddie Vedder, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Grunge Music, Guitar, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hollywood Entertainment News, Kiwi Pop, Liam Finn, Live Music Artists, Music Industry News, New Zealand, Pearl Jam, Seattle, Song Lyrics, Song Writers
California plays tribute to the golden traditions of jazz music in The Daily News today.
Appreciating the good things of culture, are upon US. That’s an affirmative step in the right direction.
Ironically about this cover is that jazz music evolve when black people in America were freed from slavery and they moved north. Jazz was the sound of the freedom. Paris loved it. Then America looked to France’s love of jazz and gave it a place too in the national heart.
These days though, emancipation of black Americans is about moving south. Go figure! Love this front page though. Smart.
Don’t forget the State of New Orleans either, a state that rather famously became a revelation of politics in the US, when during a natural disaster that shook the world, we witnessed an abuse of power occur when a US President turned his back on his own and did very little at first to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The Festival is expected to have a record turn out this year, go here to the website to be in this jazzy happy picture.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.29.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 30, 2011 in A Different View, America, California, Heritage Arts & Culture, Jayden James, Live Music Artists, Music Industry News, New Orleans
“It was light, my brothers. Light”–Hone Tuwhare‘s famous words, in this amazing piece of art.
Being shared on Hollywood on Horiwood.Com in the art of remembering the greats who went before and illuminated our way forward.
Kia Kaha as the greats have told us for centuries in Aotearoa New Zealand. Stay Strong.
~The Art of Bronaaki Tu, via New Zealand. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.27.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 28, 2011 in A Different View, Art, artist, Bronaaki, Commonwealth, Community, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hone Tuwhare, Hori = Maori, Indigenous Thinking, Maori, Stream of Consciousness Writing, Words, World History, World Peace
Courtesy of Vanity Fair photographic archives.
~Posted by Horiwood.com, Hollywood California USA. 3.1.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 1, 2011 in Heritage Arts & Culture, Hollywood History
This is quite a fascinating read. The Associated Press’ Jesse Washington has been researching what the “blackest name in America is.” Apparently it’s the name of a US President. Here’s Jesse’s words on that.
“George Washington’s name is inseparable from America, and not only from the nation’s history. It identifies countless streets, buildings, mountains, bridges, monuments, cities — and people.
In a puzzling twist, most of these people are black. The 2000 U.S. Census counted 163,036 people with the surname Washington. Ninety percent of them were African-American, a far higher black percentage than for any other common name.
The story of how Washington became the “blackest name” begins with slavery and takes a sharp turn after the Civil War, when all blacks were allowed the dignity of a surname.
Even before Emancipation, many enslaved black people chose their own surnames to establish their identities.
Afterward, some historians theorize, large numbers of blacks chose the name Washington in the process of asserting their freedom.”
Go here to read more at MSNBC.
[Photograph of Booker T. Washington courtesy of Cupcake & Tomatoes blog. Actor Kerry Washington appears courtesy RA64Freddy blog]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.21.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 21, 2011 in A Different View, Actors, America, Booker T. Washington, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hot Chocolate, Politics
If you missed the naturalness of ten-year-old singing sweetheart, Teri Maree Kopa, of Aotearoa New Zealand, yesterday, check her singing out here. Love her! She’s Oprah TV worthy with her natural talent. At the same age, she reminds me of my sister Cherry and her ability to warble a tune like a song bird angel. Very cool.
And the thought occurred to me today that Maori people of Aoteaora New Zealand were… Born This Way – With Sway.
Love them too. Watch them above performing Kapa Haka. Fun!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.19.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 20, 2011 in Heritage Arts & Culture, Hollywood Entertainment News, Maori, Performing Arts
Prince William and Kate Middleton continue to amuse at US check out aisles. Their latest US tabloid flaunts a wedding like Will’s mom, Diana‘s. Poor Charles. :)
I was thinking today, how much we have in America to be thankful for. A lot. If we live in the US in community, we know that we have each other. That’s awesome. The diversity here in Los Angeles is amazing. Like a sea of twinkling stars from many nations, reflected in the pulse of Hollywood. It’s humbling to be a part of the ‘class’ in 2011. Not that Hollywood is a school per se.
I’ve really enjoyed it so far. It’s been a privilege to be here, interact with American people in Hollywood and dream a dream with Americans towards better and noble things. I believe in the best for America, of America, and with America. It’s in my Maori-Heart to be pro-USA.
I don’t know how many Americans have put up with me some days, but I am very thankful that Hollywood and beautiful California, has. Thanks Cali. And thank you all worldwide for your support of this blog. :)
Here’s our top ten celebrity and entertainment news posts voted today. Nice choices.
2. Britney Spears video portrait artistry – Hold it Against Me
3. Tatau – Dwayne Johnson is Samoa and New Zealand’s Rock of Hollywood
4. Hollywood humor - Olivia Wilde does all the stuff Megan Fox won’t do
5. Elaine & Ken Langone‘s Giving Pledge letter for Berkshire Hathaway angels
6. Justin Bieber can act – CSI
7. Hawaii – Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green‘s sun-kissed romance
8. Branding by Sir Richard Branson
9. Cynthia Germanotta‘s sad day
10. Justin Gaston & friends – reality TV stars Kim Kardashian follows
Bonus Post – Te Mata Tini O Te Ra – is what we’re made up of. Maori culture on display is vibrant and authentically inspiring.
Vintage Hollywood stamp art – Aunt Elvira‘s stamp collection – Marilyn Monroe original stamp.
True Royals today are all of US, who give safe water to those in the world who don’t yet have it. That’s 1 in 6 of US. Go here to make a difference if you want to. Perhaps we should start the Red Scallop Water Trust, just for kicks, to ensure this happens in the 2010′s. :)
Peace!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.18.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 19, 2011 in Entertainment Celebrity News, Romance, Hollywood Entertainment News, UK, America, Entertainment News, Hollywood History, Marilyn Monroe, Water, Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Young Royals, Gratitude, Entertainment Distribution, Humanitarian Angels on Horiwood.Com, A Different View, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hot Stamps, Stamps, Prince Charles Mountbatten-Windsor
אַף־אַ֭תָּה תָּפֵ֣ר יִרְאָ֑ה וְתִגְרַ֥ע שִׂ֝יחָ֗ה לִפְנֵי־אֵֽל׃
Ko te arero reka he rakau no te ora; tena ki te wanoke a roto he wawahi wairua.
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, don’t crush the spirit.
He tangata ano ko ana korero maka noa, me te mea ko nga werohanga a te hoari;
he rongoa ia te arero o te hunga whakaaro nui.
מוּסַ֣ר מְלָכִ֣ים פִּתֵּ֑חַ וַיֶּאְסֹ֥ר אֵ֝זֹ֗ור בְּמָתְנֵיהֶֽם׃
Reckless words are as the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
~Bronaaki is the collective brotherhood of Manaakitanga’s rich cultural values as epitomized in the prayerful and mindful spirit of Bronagh Key of Helensville and her people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The words of King Solomon – son of King David – The Psalmist Warrior King, history’s wisest King on Earth as posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.17.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 18, 2011 in America, Art, artist, Bronaaki, Bronagh Key, Culture, English, Health Care, Hebrew, Helensville, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hollywood Maori Kings, Hollywood Today, King Solomon, New Zealand, Pop Art, Pop Cultural Commentary, Spirit, Superpowers discourse and direction, Te Reo Rangatira, Tui of Helensville, Tukutuku panel, Wisdom, Wisdoms Buffet, Women, Words, World History, World News, World Peace, Writers
In Potiki
you taught US
that paua
from our ancestors
is in our
eyes
for the seeing.
We see
Oceans
of humanity in need
of US
rising up
to free
new tides
of new voices.
Ebbing from
the ancient paths
bringing forth
known yet unknown
new spirit
ideas
of change.
Across waters
of great Grace.
~Mauri 'Ola.[Photograph via The Arts Foundation]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.14.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 14, 2011 in A Different View, America, Amerika, Aotearoa New Zealand, Art, artist, Authors, Culture, Grace, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hori = Maori, Human Rights, Indigenous Thinking, Literary, Maori, New Zealand, Ngapuhi, Ngati Toa, Ngati Whatua, Novels, Patricia Grace, Poetry, Spirit, Writers
“You give your life and invariably they leave you with nothing. Young girl ain’t got no chances. No roots to keep her strong. She’s shed all pretenses. That someday she’ll belong.. She will find her place in the sun”–Tracey Chapman provides poetic political-music commentary with She’s Got Her Ticket below WSJ’s financial news.
This photograph of Bibi Aisha,18, who had her ears and nose cut off after she balked at an arranged marriage in Afghanistan has picked up top honors at the 2010 World Press Photo of The Year Awards. Such a harrowing image of a beautiful young lass, with her visage altered by laws not serving her young life well.
Photographed by Jodi Bieber the image that alerted us to real human rights needs in the world was originally Time Magazine’s controversial cover in August. Poor Bibi!
In local views, a Hollywood minute is always so fickle. It’s like a week read in tabloids, but all the celebrity story line cards are shuffled. Your votes at any given hour, best reflect a Hollywood reality. That’s why I love our 10 Hot Posts Right Now section. Your choices, your authoring via popular blog hits taken from people from 50 nations of the world.
Here’s that picture with ten choices. Eclectic as ever!
1. Saris worn as colorful tattoos amongst Indian women
2. Video – Lady Gaga‘s interview with Anderson Cooper
3. TMZ always gets the best exclusives
5. Vincent Cassel & Mila Kunis for Natalie Portman‘s Oscar chances
6. What a guy! Richard Chandler is a model citizen
7. FX Men: First Class trailer, German Bull dykes and echinacea chats
8. Egypt crises – Wael Ghonim ‘vs’ Hosni Mubarak – switching billionaires spokespeeps
9. Haka Patu! A filmmakers tohu for Joanna Paul
10. Deutsche Borse and the NY Stock Exchange situation
In world news and financial watch news via the Wall Street Journal, here’s what’s on Wall Street Culture’s radar today:
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.11.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 11, 2011 in 10 Hot Posts Right Now, Afghanistan, America, Angela Merkel, Art, artist, Bibi Aisha, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Folk Music, Germany, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hollywood Entertainment News, Human Rights, Human Trafficking, Information Sharing, Lesbians, Live Music Artists, Music Industry News, Poetry, Pop Art, Pop Cultural Commentary, San Francisco, Social Media, Social Networking, Song Lyrics, Song Writers, Tracey Chapman, Transparency in a Digital Age, Wall Street Culture, West Hollywood, Women, World News
Crossword girl sits opposite me in the cafe, her feet in a cross-legged position on her chair as she scribbles, like it’s yoga class over coffee. It’s good to see someone writing in this day and age. Like, with a pen. I jump on Facebook and see my friend Dale from Wellington, Aotearoa-New Zealand wants to head to New Orleans for the Jazz & Heritage Festival this year. How cultured of her.
Dale must already be over racking up ten out of ten tans in Hawaii. Dale did that twice last year and loved it, but perhaps New Orleans would be more fun. She reads books anyway, so how’s that going to mesh with our spicy crawfish gumbo, serious paella palate research and sarsaparilla vodka martini sessions, with all the beaut music that dance-loving Maoris will instantly want to do, if I go with her? The world’s hottest books list, might feel a bit neglected, this US trip of Dale’s.
Then there’s all those vampire movie sets we’ll have to visit in New Orleans too, like where the Twilight Saga kids (Kristen Stewart, Alex Meraz, Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson) all are filming, or where Oscar winner Anna Paquin‘s True Blood cast film too, or even where Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunce and Tom Cruise filmed the Anne Rice novel adaptation too, of that film, Interview with a Politician Vampire we’ll have to get photographs of at – as well, if we do New Orleans with a Hollywood Maori twist. I don’t know if I can cope without my new Orthodox Jewish friends nearby for too long these days in such political-economic climates of the world; or when you pick up any newspaper. But I think I just might manage.
Of course we should as Dale and I always had movie dates in the nation’s capitol of Wellington when we both worked in government in New Zealand on Sundays, so we should keep our tradition going as US movie loving hori film buffs. Already the possibilities of fun in New Orleans are sounding tres exciting, and that’s months away. I know Dale already has friends there, so that could be rivetingly wild as Dale does biz too. She’s a bright spark with a fine sense of Nati humor, I have always been proud of to have as my friend.
Knowing Dale though, while I’m running around vampire set locations, she’ll be more green thinking conscience, like wanting to go and meet the real people of New Orleans who live in the lakes and inlet areas, to talk to them about how they managed to clean up the environment after the gulf oil spill crises with BP. Remember that? 
Posted by horiwood on February 2, 2011 in Entertainment Celebrity News, Brad Pitt, New Zealand, Oscars, Music Industry News, Hollywood Entertainment News, Think Green, World Peace, Native American Indians, Health Care, Poetry, China, Travel Destinations, New Orleans, Health & Beauty, West Hollywood, Rugby, America, Middle East, Trends, Fitness, Tee Shirts, Hollywood History, Sean Penn, Matthew Bryan, Piano, Recovery, California, Water, Culture, Poneke, Ngati Porou, Hollywood Today, Hori = Maori, Twilight, Rugby World Cup, Cuisine, Aotearoa New Zealand, Pop Cultural Commentary, Ngapuhi, Cross-Cultural Narratives, A Different View, oil, John Cougar Mellencamp, Real People Real LA Faces, Egypt, Hispanic-Americans, Robert Deniro, What's Cooking in Your Kitchen for The World?, Indigenous Thinking, Toni Morrison, Elton John, Celebrity Rehab, Heritage Arts & Culture, Theresa of Texas, Matt Bryan, Ian Bryan, Jamie Bryan, Yul Brynner, Jazz Music, Dale The Nati, Billy Joel, Arcade Fire, Haiti, Catholic Watch, Mississippi
Barbara Ann Teer, center foreground, founder of National Black Theater, with the cast of one of her productions in 1970, looks so awesome in this photograph. Barbara sits in darkness. You can’t see her. Because she needs our help and support.
When I read the accompanying story in the New York Times “A Harlem Cultural Hub Is Threatened by Debt” that goes with Barbara Teer’s pic, it just tears my heart out, when I read that American cultural theater arts needs some support in The Big Apple.
Basically, it’s like this, ‘because Hollywood makes so few African-American films each year’ the real stories from this community are told in theater, like The National Black Theater productions very important work.
In African-American stories, we learn about life lived outside of slavery. We learn of American life lived in Liberty. If we don’t support African-American theater, perhaps we are not valuing the spirit of Liberty enough, as that’s what their theater is a witness of, not only in the US, but the world. I love it!
Do something if you want to. Thanks.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.1.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 1, 2011 in Actors, America, Art, artist, Barbara Ann Teer, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech, Harlem, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hot Chocolate, Liberia, Liberty, New York, Theater
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BABY NEWS – FACEBOOK’S DOMINANCE CONTINUES TO BE MISTAKEN FOR DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT
I wee chat about empowering others, into pathways of democracy:
Is being on a website all people need to have to feel like they have ‘a viable sense of democracy?’ In some nations, that answer is a resounding “yes.” In particular Facebook’s dominance in Egypt, is revolutionizing the culture so much as a social website that people are really making Facebook a part of their family’s future. Literally.
The Associated Press reports today, “A new Egyptian father has named his daughter Facebook in honour of the role social media played in his country’s recent revolution.
Jamal Ibrahim told Al-Ahram newspaper his newborn’s unusual name showed how happy he was with Facebook’s part in organising protests across Egypt.
Thousands of protesters in January packed Tahrir Square and other cities in Egypt for 18 days calling for an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.
Family, friends and neighbours have reportedly gathered around the newborn to show their continued support for the revolution they say started on the social networking site.
The newborn’s family is not alone in expressing their gratitude to Facebook.
The number of Facebook users in Egypt has grown to five million over the past month — more than any other country in the Middle East.
Some 32,000 groups and 14,000 pages were created after the January 25 revolution.
Graffiti sprayed across Cairo said “thank you Facebook” in the days after President Mubarak eventually bowed to public pressure and resigned.
The military government is also using Facebook to try and reach out to young Egyptian people.
But one internet blogger thinks the family may have gone too far in naming their daughter after the website.
“The internet as a whole should win the Nobel Peace Prize this year for all it’s done for democracy in the Middle East/North African region, but let’s not let this naming kids get out of hand,” the blogger said.
“I’d hate for little Facebook to have to share a classroom with a little AOL, or worse a little Yahoo!”
Although the story is very cute, you can’t help but sense that the billionaire’s of the world (Hosni Mubarak being a big one) are putting the new millionaire’s club to work (Mark Zuckerberg and friends) to act as ’magicians of online American corporate IT magic.’ These lads (mainly) are all having a little bit too much fun in Egypt, right now. Obviously. They’re very strong. Too funny!
Egypt is the model nation, all other nation’s in the Mid-East who may or may not, have a revolution too, are being shaped by invisible guiding forces to follow – like Facebook being an agent of influence, for example.
From a Humanitarian point of view, I can’t help thinking that it’s a shame Egypt can’t do their own version of Facebook like “Phoenix Book” or “Cleopatra’s Peoples Pages” or something. A new version of a social website that is more friendly to the Arabic language.
Surely, in a nation that’s natural gas and gold rich, Egypt could develop that social news website, that we in the US, are happy to access and share, equally by cross-pollinating websites as it’s possible for them to dove tail each other. Instead of Post Hosni Mubarak years, giving one’s entire cultural IP in the form of pictures, shared video links and most importantly a nation’s written words to Facebook – for free. Just a thought.
We are not mercernary in America. Why should a Hosni Mubarak hold the future of Egypt’s daily culture created and shared online, as a sacrifice to American IT companies. That does not sit well with me. So an Egyptian-owned Cleopatra’s People Pages social media website (that could be 50% US owned if an idea of democracy is preferred) would seem smart. When we joke about Egypt in the US because of Facebook, that’s not all that cool, when Egypt is 1/4 the size of the US. It’s like laughing at 1/4 of America for example, and that doesn’t sit very well with me. Watch this video to see what I mean via Funny or Die. Click on top Pic to view.
I just think there’s enough Arabic speaking, Mid-East and Egyptian-friendly people in the world, to get together, combine talents and preserves Egypt’s culture and heritage arts on an Egyptian owned social media site. That would be kinda smart.
Word for the day – What mercenary could mean – “A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict, who is not a national or a party to the conflict, and is “motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or paid to combatants of similar ranks and functions in the armed forces of that Party” (Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Convention of August 1949). A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he gets monetary reward from his service.”
If you’re Egyptian and you’ve temporarily forgotten how strong and beautiful your culture is, under duress, here’s a song just for you in Arabic as a reminder. You should have your own Facebook, so that cultural ignoramuses like me, can access it and see your stars. They’re pretty cool. :)
[Music - via Samo Zaen - Twilit Dove at Side of Branch blog post, Hollywood]
[Pictures and Horiwood.Com - Hollywood archives]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.20.11~
Posted by horiwood on February 21, 2011 in Music Industry News, World News, Leadership, World Peace, Wisdom, Politics, Wisdoms Buffet, West Hollywood, Human Rights, Freedom, America, Economy, Democracy, Women, Mark Zuckerberg, Billionaire HQ on Horiwood.Com, Liberty, Freedom of Speech, Arabic, Muslims, Culture, Pop Art, Social Networking, World History, Foreign Affairs, Cultural Imperialism, Hollywood Today, Humanitarian Angels on Horiwood.Com, Billionaire Philanthropy, Pop Cultural Commentary, Words, Facebook, Cross-Cultural Narratives, IT, A Different View, oil, Writers, Social Media, Egypt, Foreign Press, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Light, Freedom of Expression, gold, natural gas, Heritage Arts & Culture, Human Trafficking & Writers Aggregated Creativity via IT Corporates, Hollywood Television Service, Cleopatra, Samo Zaen