Photo snapped 3 minutes ago.
True facts – smoking is bad for your health.
Nuclear reactors can cause cancer.
Dictators rob people of quality of life.
To be considerate to others is to walk in a spirit of peace.
~Posted by Horiwood by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.19.11~
Bijan take great pleasure today in running a front page banner ad on the Los Angeles Times.
Love it or not, the purpose of the ad is to denote the sexiness of ‘fashion & speed’ namely in the form of the Gulfstream jet aircraft (you should have one of these!) and if you’re in the market too the bugatti limited edition by Bijan is also pitted as being hot property to own as well.
I love the website’s music at bijan.com. Listen.
Who – Kate Winslet (Oscar winner)
What – Mildred Pierce HBO TV drama series.
With who: Guy Pearce (Momento, LA Confidential, Priscilla Queen of the Tour Bus).
Director: Todd Hayes
Producers: Todd Hayes, Jon Raymond
Synopsis: Kate Winslett revives Joan Crawford‘s Oscar winning role as the divorced single mom Mildred Pierce who decides to open a restaurant business, which tears at the already-strained relationship with her ambitious elder daughter, Veda.
More commentary: The original was set in WWII, when men were at war and women like Mildred had to step up to the plate and grow the economy. Thus women through Mildred’s eyes could bake at least 13 American apple pies in their ovens effortlessly in one batch. Industrialness was key.
If I told you more… I’d spoil the deal. It’s a tad femme fatale. Stroppy women are allowed. And I notice that Kate is wearing celtic symbols etched into her wardrobe piece. She’s a bit Florence Welch or Julia Gillard in that regard. Working it.
Guest Media Commentary from abroad that helps set the scene for Mildred’s hard bitten attitude beneath her beauty: Kerre Woodham‘s recent op edding effort, where she sounds like she sleeps on iron nails, writing: ‘Trauma is a very vague term.’
“[Once] a letter writer, a doughty woman who grew up during the air raids of the Battle of Britain, wrote that facing adversity built character. The children of World War II hadn’t received any counselling and she was of a mind that young people today should harden the heck up.
“I, too, feel people can be over-counselled but I hasten to add there are no hard and fast rules. Counselling can be, quite literally, a lifesaver – but it shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all for everyone.
“Some years ago, a Christchurch psychiatrist suggested that a stiff drink might help some people recover better from traumatic events than if they received endless counselling sessions.
Woodham ends her column by writing “Lordy. Put that woman in an air-raid shelter and let the bombs rain down. Then she’ll understand what trauma is.”
Alright – put lipstick on those words of Kerre’s to get the gist of what the world of Mildred is all about. It’s set in Glendale, the neighborhood where Walt Disney used to look out of his front window of his home, and sketch deer while he was envisioning Bambi. I kid you not.
Glendale? Okay then. Today that’s (sort of) Armenian-American recruiting land. Watch this series. It’s always been a beauty.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.18.11~
A billboard message as photographed five minutes ago in Hollywood let’s us know the new direction of Washington-Hollywood’s next show. It’s a little Toni Collette or Hugh Jackman too, definitely very Nicole Kidman-esque as well.
From Steven Spielberg’s show comes the billboard message, “The battle for the student body has begun.” The best trained student minds go where? That is the question, especially in the scientific field of green energy technologies advancement. :)
It’s now a battle of the smarts. I love it!!!
The United States of Aussie in the USA. These celebrity news posts voted by you on Horiwood.Com today in Hollywood round out that sentiment. Enjoy.
1. Hugh Jackman on wearing Aussie speedos
2. Aussie angel Miranda Kerr for Victoria’s Secret
4. Daniel Assange of Melbourne
5. Jessica Rabbit is doing a lot in the USA this year
6. Jolene live by Keith Urban and country buddies
7. In Aussie, Rihanna‘s security team keep close
8. Te matarae i Orehu – Maori Poi Dance for Aussie Tribe Ngati Ocker
10. Kiwi Humor - Sonny Bill Williams now boxes for the better team ;)
Oops, I almost forgot. The best post ever–Keisha Castle Hughes, Barack Obama, Julia Gillard, John Key & Beyonce. Hot!
Some entertainment based blogs in the USA who might be covering Aussie and New Zealand news more in the near future are:
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Answer This A Socialite’s Life Best Week Ever Blogebrity Read the rest of this entry » |
Kim Kardashian is hard at work, weaving the Elizabeth Taylor, Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman Hollywood Queens of the silver screen references together as America’s number one face of Middle Eastern origins this weekend. In a Cleopatra styled photo shoot for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Kardashian is styled as Cleopatra, the famous Queen of Egypt romance rulership narratives in World History. As we know Angie-Jo has compared herself (via Johnny Depp) in recent interviews to Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s star status as a silver screen Queen of Hollywood. Jolie is also starring in the upcoming 3D Cleopatra film ahead. Natalie Portman is up for an Oscar nod this year for her role in Black Swan.
This photo commentary is perhaps the best depiction in a long while as to how the Art of Hollywood (American) celebrity is manufactured and created, hence this post today as an observation of the ‘art of celebrity.’ It is the most popular artform of America, fueling the machines of media distribution who all make bank from pop cultural narratives like this – in the American pipeline of entertainment’s allure via the US into the global psyche of most people in the world.
In stylistic terms then and what this photo shoot could also mean, the Dead Bolt has this report – “Although the latest photos of Kim Kardashian show Kardashian as the famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra, which may be a case of bad timing given the political trouble in Egypt, the Cleopatra photos of Kardashian are strikingly beautiful much like the real queen.
In the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, Kim Kardashian is featured on the cover dressed as the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. The Cleopatra photos of Kim Kardashian were only one aspect of the photo shoot since the real highlight for Kardashian was the opportunity to interview former on-screen Cleopatra Elizabeth Taylor for the issue.
In the Kim Kardashian interview with Elizabeth Taylor, (for Kim’s reality TV show) Kardashian and Taylor discuss what it takes to be a queen plus Taylor’s famous jewelry collection, which Kardashian is very familiar with in the real world. Kardashian also reveals that she is a huge fan of Elizabeth Taylor and asked the Hollywood legend for advice on becoming more like Taylor, although Kim is currently six husbands and a ton of jewelry behind.”
Nice reporting on the matter. And nice weaving Hollywood Queen motifs via Kardashian’s visage by Harper’s Bazaar. Clever.
Obviously, with all of the news of ‘change’ (digital media revolution change especially) that has occurred in Egypt the last two weeks in American news, and with Hollywood’s hottest stars being called upon to work it, with Egyptian styled themes for future American-Hollywood productions ahead – expect a major Middle East show via the US in World News Media – given this level of production occurring on the matter via US’s brightest global stars this year.
Beyonce Queen of the Desert concerts with pyramid backdrops are looking like the hot ticket in music ahead, complimenting Jolie’s leading lady selected 3D film production. Seriously, you know that’s coming with OTT gusto via the US in the ‘new era’ of global politics machinations.
Going by the honey bee, beehive motifs in the top photograph, expect Beyonce to emerge on this theme of entertainment too, a performer who is also a hugely popular star of Mid-East oil sheiks and their whomp-whomp club of Gold and Oil obsessed friends.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollwood California USA. 2.13.11. West Hollywood pop art image via Horiwood.Com archives, Hollywood~
On a Winter Sunday I go. To clear away the snow. In green the ground below.
“Did you call her a vampire?” the fifty something husband asks his wife as they exit the cafe. “No,” his wife says laughing. “I just said she sucked!”
April all an ocean away. Is this the better way to spend the day? Keeping the Winter at bay.
I look at Lemon Face serving our coffee today. She does look a little bit sour.
While in line waiting, Fulton tells me that Arki got “let go” from the bar last night. He was found with liquor in his back pack and a bottle of hot sauce. It was the hot sauce that got him fired. Especially because “the hot sauce was in his back pack before the shift began, not even at the end of the night.” Everyone at Arki’s Hollywood hip spot venue, is p*ssed with Arki. He’d been a part of the team for five years. He is the second long term staff member to be let go for theft in two weeks.
“Poor Arki,” I offer. “No. Not poor Arki,” Fulton says angrily. “Stupid, pig dog swine dumb Arki, that’s what. Stupid Arki,” Fulton fumes. “Okay, stupid pig dog swine Arki!”, I say as a friend. Strange, because I’ve never met Arki and I repeat the mantra like I am disappointed. Already my encouragement points of the day are in the red. My sister Rachel would kick my behind, if she heard me speak like this.
I know that Fulton is more p*ssed that Arki has robbed his workmates of the chance to be in team. That sense of being in ‘Hollywood family’ each week has been stolen from Fulton. In Hollywood, your workmates become just that to many single people. Hollywood Family. Poor Fulton and team, my mind forms the empathetic thoughts without saying them as words.
What were the words I meant to say before you left? When I could see your breath lead.
Stupid pig dog swine Arki.
“Kia Ora. I’ll have a venti cup of your finest Pike River Roast of the day please.”
“Sure” Lemon Face says, with a nice enough smile.
Because my perception of Lemon Face has been framed by her previous customer’s response to her service, my instincts kick in, when they shouldn’t even have to work this early, to make up my own mind about her.
I wouldn’t smile more than that, if I served coffee I think gauging her smile. So she’s okay by me so far.
“How’s life? I ask,” a mistake.
“My daughter’s sick today. I had to take her to the doctor this morning. It was so hard to come to work.”
“I hear ya,” I offer throwing an extra dollar in her tip jar.
Fulton throws me a look, as in ‘don’t.’ Too late. The money’s in her honey pot.
Her smile gets bigger. Maybe she’s not a vampire after all. Like a Hollywood actress, for twenty seconds of talking, she just made an extra buck. I guess that makes her a good vampire then. She’s all good. She’s winning.
Where you were going to? Maybe I should just let it be. And maybe it will all come back to me. Sing O January O.
I hum my oriori Maori song lyrics in my head over top of The Decemberists catchy guitaring tunes playing on cafe stereo. Once I have a coffee in my hand, I always wake up to the ocean of Maori culture inside me. It’s weird. But that always happens at first sip of the day.
“Stupid. Pig. Dog. Swine. Arki” Fulton mutters.
“Have you seen that movie?” I gesture towards Matt Damon’s latest movie billboard on the boulevard, figuring that a change of focus is as good as a rest.
“Your fate has been adjusted. The Adjustment Bureau,” Fulton reads the signage. “Well, that does nothing for me.”
“Look. You never know. It might be a good film. Wanna go see it?” I offer.
“No. I think it’s total pigs wallop, how Matt and Ben got their Oscar. There were 16 other writers on that script. They got the credit.”
Great. Another movie alone I think looking at Damon’s billboard with the Hollywood Hills winking behind it. How am I supposed to write scripts with a writer, who never wants to see the latest flicks in Hollywood? Argh!
[Stupid. Pig. Dog. Swine. Arki].
How I lived a childhood in snow. And all my teens in tow. Stuffed in strata of clothes.
“So, what’s going on with you?” Fulton asks.
“Well, the blog. I met this guy who wants to do tee shirts, coffee mugs and jewelry sales via the–”
“No. Don’t do it. You’re better off being independent.”
Pale the winter days after dark. Wandering the gray memorial park.
“But when do I get a chance to sit in a hot tub at my place with views overlooked from the Hollywood Hills if I’m always ‘independent’ and broke then aye?”
“You’re ridiculous,” Fulton says finally laughing.
“Made you laugh though aye bro? Stupid. Pig. Dog–
“Swine. Arki.” Fulton finishes his mantra, his smile now almost back-to-normal.
A fleeting beat of hearts. What were the words I meant to say before she left?
__
The Adjustment Bureau is a film that reads like a Natalie Portman tribute, in which – “Just as he is on the brink of winning a senate seat, politician David Norris (Matt Damon) meets a ballerina named Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt). Though David is smitten, mysterious men conspire to keep him away from the beautiful dancer. David learns he is up against the powerful agents of Fate itself, and, glimpsing the future laid out before him, must either accept a predetermined path that does not include Elise, or defy Fate to be with her.”
___
| adjust (əˈdʒʌst) | |
| — vb | |
| 1. | ( tr ) to alter slightly, esp to achieve accuracy; regulate: toadjust the television |
| 2. | to adapt, as to a new environment, etc |
| 3. | ( tr ) to put into order |
| 4. | ( tr ) insurance to determine the amount payable in settlementof (a claim) |
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.9.11~
I have a confession to make, I am perhaps the most compassionless sibling out of all the kids in my family. Most of my siblings live in Aotearoa-New Zealand. One lives in Australia.
Today I looked at this Billboard. It was way too sexy for Middle-America (joking) yet in Hollywood it strangely wasn’t. I look at these two models clinched in a sexy embrace. Her bunny teeth flanked by pumped up bee stung lips with his tattoo ink carving a Young Hollywood picture against blue California skies next to a palm tree.
This is the first billboard you’ll see when you leave my front door. Just a little bit sexy, no?
After photographing this picture of the Hollywood skyline, I get a coffee and enjoy the morning sun. I begin to think family and ‘family projects.’ I am thankful that I have such an amazing family I would love to do ‘family projects’ with.
They are sexy in different ways I think sitting opposite this billboard in warm, California winter’s sunlight, as I ponder my amazing siblings life messages to date. They cling onto things that are perhaps a little bit more important than image, like family, Read the rest of this entry »
If we can change the world with our own two hands, let’s make sure we give the world clean water. Especially kids without access. Levi’s jeans marketing poster art, snapped in Hollywood 5 minutes ago reminded me that we have a lot of work to do and undo in the world. Ten posts we’re sharing as culture right now from Hollywood on Horiwood.Com via social media are:
1. Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire wins over Mad Men – SAG Awards 2011
2. Spiritual Wisdom – Practical Spirituality – Chabad wisdom rocks!
3. Art – Man of Sorrows by Matthew Brooks
4. Egypt News via West Hollywood -1.31.11
5. America is becoming more bilingual – Census Results 2010
6. Vanity Fair needs the riot act read on their ‘diversity card’ – Hollywood issue
7. Ten news topics – Kiwi readers read as news @ 8.30PM – 2.1.11
8. Brad Pitt models for the global security industry – with our shared pop culture
10. Justin Bieber – Vanity Fair March 2011
A thought – every time we show kindness to others, we demonstrate our capacity to be ordinary folk whose spirits are super natural.
To read up on US media outlets news coverage, check these guys and girls out too: Brave New Films; BuzzFeed; Peek (Alternet); Political Animal; Political Capital (CNBC); Political Wire; Read the rest of this entry »
Bauer Griffin Online have this funny pic of Brad Pitt today. TSA celebrity spotlighting at air ports, is the latest Hollywood craze. It’s meant to denote good security at a nation’s airport borders, which subliminally means a ‘safe place to travel and vacation’ in a world where ‘security profiles’ are what all leaders love flaunting as their good leadership card.
I love it. It’s a fact that the security industry worldwide, is the next level of wealth for stock market investors in the world. The more scary news the better to grow these investments in the world in the security industries expansion. Because the real money occurs in the world, not necessarily starring in movies or promoting them either, I guess Brad Pitt is starring as ‘Big Brother’ promotions then, in this pic. Too funny!
Ten hot entertainment posts we’re sharing as culture in this moment from Hollywood via social media are:
1. In plum Marchesa – Kim Kardashian – Hollywood’s reigning red carpet star
2. Volvo Hollywood skies – Pop culture with some Ernest & Tova Borgnine
3. The 10 fastest rising stars outside of Asia of 2010
4. Ten things about Adam Frankel, 29, Obama‘s speech writer
5. Remembering Thomas Jefferson on Bill of Rights importance
6. Lucy Lawless & Kiwi breasts
7. Egypt News – New York Times 1.31.11
8. Born to be Somebody – Dianne Warren works her talent for Justin Bieber
10. Jo Racquel Tejada as Hollywood Oscars attendees history -1.31.11
Some bloggers and media outlets who do what I do, that I like at times are: Mosaic; Mother Jones; MSNBC; Read the rest of this entry »
I saw this sign today in Little Russia West Hollywood. It has a very cool message, well worth posting in Hollywood.
It reads – “From darkness into great light. From slavery into Freedom. From bondage to redemption.”
I was thinking that at face value, this message is a good one. Debt can be an enslaver. Or living a life behind facades that aren’t real or aren’t fun to live behind too can cost people life’s purpose. Or, just not being sure of the future can enslave the psyche with fear of the unknown. Or, being oppressed by rule you don’t want (as in Egypt’s case this week), means that we can also gain inspiration from this message via the Chabad community of Little Russia.
I know very little about Chabad people and their beliefs. In the last three weeks I have met a few members of this community. They are extremely over-conscience when discussing any issue in discussion. In the age of the sound bite, you need to be prepared to allow time for Chabad community members to share their wisdom. I like seeing their thought processes at work, before they conclude what they think in each moment on any major issue. They are raised to think. Deduce their own thoughts as unique individuals. Their thought processes are so fascinating. They are spiritual intellectuals. Like, fierce. Although a lot different to myself, I like their sincerity very much in Hollywood.
So far, I’m finding them to be nice people. It’s exciting really to meet people different to yourself. Where dialogue occurs, we learn new things, that are hopefully of benefit to our community. I am always thankful, they are open and share their culture with me, a guy from New Zealand living in Hollywood.
What a cool sign! If I hadn’t of gone down a side street a different way to the cafe than I normally go today, I would never have seen it.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.1.11~
Spirit words, “The just shall live by their faith”–Martin Luther, Germany.
Visuals: Three Israeli gold rings, Star of David ring, with yamulke.
[This post especially for Alison Stewart saying hi, via email. ICU]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California. 1.30.11~
Today I did the unthinkable, I valued my own words rather than ‘cutting and pasting’ other peoples voices, via the internet.
As a blogger, this is not smart.
You get rewarded by search engine spiders (namely ‘s, that then , Bing and the rest feed off) for quick pics and a couple of sentences with a quote or two only.
Volume of short blog posts is how you get ahead, because so many non-creative bloggers capture your stuff.
To keep stories short, is how google rewards you on a blog. So doh! Not smart with time usage.
To see my view of America today. Particularly of one snapshot of a postmodern California community, go here.
Sometimes we need to break from the norm, and take time to share a snapshot of how things really are, beneath the layers and layers of hype.
This poster to me, is kinda Young Hollywood, early twenties. Beyond 25, people are more into creating meaning these days in the USA.
[Poster art today as depicted in this neighborhood signage, probably most occurs on or via one's telephone]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California. USA
The movie poster’s tagline is: “Someone has to fix the problems.” But what happens if we create the problems ourselves though?
It is what it is. A gun poster spotted today on Melrose for a new Hollywood movie. A critique on America’s allocated role to “fix it.”
According to this poster, the mechanics of the gun as a symbol of power, is depicted being a component made up of smaller guns.
In particular, note the super hero dolls reflected in the poster’s mirror image, of this particular take of the poster.
When fixing anything, we often discover if we are humble enough to see clearly, that “it” is always ourselves, that’s needing fixing at times, as much as other people, things or factors we also acknowledge need to be fixed to. It’s part of being one of over six billion people, sharing life on this earth. :)
I still refuse to see the gun as the ultimate ‘peace’ piece defining us all. Love is.
Yet we do need mechanics.
The talk of this film in Industry Town Hollywood -accompanying this poster for reals is that: The Mechanic is a movie starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster. Its movie story line goes like this: “Follows an elite hit man as he teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims.”
Writers are Lewis John Carlino and Richard Wenk and directed by Simon West.
Meet in The Lobby website (aka Starbucks on Melrose) takes the movie marketing analysis even further noting:
“The Mechanic is a version of the 1972 Charles Bronson thriller of the same name, with the hitman-as-mentor storyline. This time around, the oft-typecast Jason Statham is the lead, breakout talent Ben Foster is the student. Throw in revenge as motivation, and you can understand why this new movie poster for The Mechanic is all about the weapons.
“Look closely toward the bottom of the image. Seems the marketing team at CBS Films is kneeling to the smartphone gods, sneaking a QR code into their jigsaw puzzle of a poster. Here, we’ve made it easier, so get out your reader. If you don’t have a QR reader, the code takes you to the film’s official site. And we’ll make that easier too… Check out the official site for The Mechanic.”
The world is becoming more like, follow the trail of the QR reader isn’t it. Here’s one example. Cool or not? The gun as a symbol or test study to follow of the QR strategy… interesting!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.26.11~
As I blog today in Hollywood as a Maori Kiwi farmer’s raised country kid son, there’s a lot going on to deal with. Nothing is as simple as those country days, in a Cosmopolitan City like Los Angeles.
I get texts on my phone asking for a meeting with a Romanian-American kid whose discovered paranormal activity in Laurel Canyon, beneath the house with a pyramid on top of it, currently on the market for 3.5 million, “why wouldn’t Tom Cruise buy it?’ is the gist of texting. Why I would even go, I don’t know?
I know that the founding Native American Indian tribes of California used to meet in the Laurel Canyon area each year, seasonally and theater would occur between the convergence of tribes there – where they would reenact a year’s worth of tribal stories for each other as tribes, in shared song and dance narratives.
Hollywood in a way, is an evolution, of this tradition, but technology (cinema, film, media, mobile telephony) is the preferred medium to convey this tradition in the world now from California. As I’ve already told this kid that, I don’t feel like going.
There’s always going to be paranormal activity in the Canyon, until Native American Indians are invited back to do what they always did on Hollywood Hills and Canyon landscapes, as people. It’s just what they do and should be allowed to do as a sign of genuine belief in the origins of freedom of expression of America’s founding fathers, mothers and their children. That’s where the concept of American family begins as a narrative in the USA, in a celebrated and ongoing healing process that should be honored and respected too for all of America with Native American Indians being a vital part of that.
I had suggested to the kid to meet with Indian tribes himself if he was so concerned about the increase of paranormal activity in Hollywod, to see if there was any interest in that and to meet with the Mayor of L.A too to get it going on. He had looked at me like I was a total spinner, (I have the same thought each day too at times, so that’s quite okay) but it’s certainly much better than entertaining ghosts in the canyon, I think. Far smarter.
Pyramid worship here of the rich and famous and Free Mason society types aside here, I think Indians have their place in Hollywood as people on this landscape that should be honored and respected as honoring the roots of a nation’s peace and human rights record and pathway forward. So that’s the end of the texting saga as I turn my phone off. Peace is the greatest gift of all in California. Least we get confused at to what robs America’s peace, we need to learn to turn our phones off sometimes to have it.
Beside me to the right, the blonde girl in the cowboy tartan red and black cowboy, all wool shirt (too hot for California actually), cut off denim shorts and black fishnet stockings talks the need of “boundary setting with her new boyfriend” to her ‘Personal Gay’ friend. He just nods at everything she says, like he’s a tamed poodle or something. What’s up with that brainless trend?
A Mexican Aztec fashion designer, with sharp cheekbones talks to investors in the cafe today about how far $100,000 investments could go, and where that would take them. He’s 50 with little Richard eyeliner Aztec eyes. A fierce statement in today’s Hollywood. He’s not big on ‘speaking the English,’ he’s like “You give me $100,000 and this is what you get for that.” Yet there’s no denying that he knows his stuff in the new wave of the fashion apparel business in California. He’s a modern merchant of Cali’s fashion world as perhaps best denoted by his leopard, tiger markings-fused silk printed gypsy-esque scarf worn over his Aztec Indian jewelry. The look in his eye, tells his investors, that he’s fearlessly forging ways forward in the current economy. Good for him! A discerning confident spirit.
He wears an old school biker leather jacket with the words L.O.S A.N.G.E.L.E.S in white leather down each black sleeve and plenty of jean jewelry chain accessories.
Beside and opposite me, Mandel an Orthodox brother studies up on the Torah on his laptop and my African-American brother, Jey Lawrence sits too. Jey’s dad researched in the Warren Beatty, Julie Christie and Goldie Hawn Hollywood-popular era of the 70′s, Jey’s family history. He mapped his families tribe back to the Southern Nile of Egypt, hence Jeys Egyptian key, eye, double spears, skin-shield tattoos. He is very Barack Obama-esque today (the contemporary inked version) and watches college football keeping up with the next generation of sporting talent. Of course being in Hollywood weird things happen all the time in good ways. My last Hollywood post was about the Key of Ramses II fused with the prophet Isaiah’s words. Then Jey sits right next to me, with a version of Ramses tattooed on his arm. His version does look like Obama’s face a bit, and we laugh about that, because it’s true.
In addition, Jey tells me that the Maori haka is a big trend in college football. Where football teams perform the haka (Maori war dance) before their football matches. What is even more awesome though is when the crowd of spectators respond and do it too. Jay says American footballers love Maori culture because it is an expression of warrior-hood and tribalness that defines community, that football represents here at community level. The Maori haka resonates with America’s belief of strong warrior communities.
I can’t argue with that. Maori culture and tino rangatiratanga (the spirit essence of the culture) is all about that. It does think of protecting everyone, and ensuring everyone remains strong warriors in community. The haka is a visual expression of this aesthetic in effect. The haka – when performed properly, is always spiritual. Jey loves it.
Jey has moved from personal fitness training to now doing hair. He says it’s way easier to manage. We talk the concept of ‘hair lockers.’ Where Jey points out the beautiful twenty-something blonde girls in the cafe and says most of these girls have weaves, or hair tracks on their scalps. I’m so dumb, I’m like “no way!”. He’s like, “yes, they all do. California is hair capitol of America.” When they get their hair done, their old hair they take off their heads and they save it. Hence all these girls have what is called a hair locker in their bedrooms at home.
I say, well, Hollywood American girls are sort of like Native American Indians, collecting hair in that scalping tradition way then. Jey says, “not a good example. But yes. You’re right. Half of Hollywood is like that.” We laugh. Servite Football team of California are Jey’s favorite college football team’s fans, he says do the Maori haka the fiercest. They’re also big on Scottish music too. Must check them out. Jey reminds me of my brother-in-laws Lou, once bro-in-law Matthew, Richard and Eddie who all play touch rugby football. Some internationally too. Jey most looks very similar to brotha Eddie who is half Maori of the Tainui Maori tribe and half Tongan of the South Pacific.
‘Don’t be a stranger,’ Jey says off to his next appointment. Dude is so Warren Beatty of Shampoo movie days in 1975 Oscar winning history, minus the attitude. We had a good conversation today, with his permission to share it with you. Yes, feel privileged.
On any given day you blog in a cafe in Los Angeles, such things go on all around you in the real Hollywood.
I love it.
Today Malia gets top billing (pictured above), with her Maori koru design aesthetic from Aotearoa-New Zealand etched into her Young Hollywood scalp. She’s all fierce, smart, beautiful like a skinnier version of Missy Elliott, the rapper; having biz meetings with a blonde guy from the U.K with a Cockney accent whose convincing Malia to sign with him as her photographer/ manager.
She is beautiful, confident, quietly resolute. As I ask to share her winning look back to the good people of Aotearoa-New Zealand where her I.D is inspired from, (and with you all) she smiles big, turns side on and says “Wurq it Mah-ree peoples of New Zeeeeeland.”
Like that. Let’s go America! :)
As a New Zealander, I am that American footballers and supporters do the Maori-Kiwi haka of New Zealand. Just get on a plane every now and again and head down to NZ to see it performed live every now and again, for reals from the source of culture, okay? :)
What a fun day. I feel like I hung out at Hollywood’s version of The White House – Hollywood coffee bar today. Thankfully Aotearoa, New Zealand is so in that picture too. Fun.
[Gosh, that was perhaps the longest blog post header written ever!]
Music today is laid back mellow, as I think about Hawaiian sun, South Pacific palm trees and beautiful Aotearoa beaches, while listening to the Zac Brown Band ‘s song Toes brought to US by 5 Gum, while thinking that I’ve already done our celebrity news today in this one post.
I can imagine my Maori-Samoan cousin Eileen Taogaga grooving to this at the Helensville pub today near the Kaipara, on a mom’s friday night off in the ‘big smoke’ of Helensville as good country Kiwi folk do in any tight knit rural community, with the best green grass in the world, far across the waters on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean of Malibu as I blog, from The City of Angels today.
~Cross cultural, living tukutuku weaving art on wood created at Melrose & Spaulding. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.26.11. To everyone who contributed to this moment, thanks.~
I love this top pic. It defines the strength of character Kiwis possess who entertain with big-hearted spirit.
The pic below, is a tee shirt in Timeless on Melrose, Los Angeles street chic fashion district, that defines the spirit of Indigenous Kiwis (Maoris or hori’s like me) who survived Colonization’s effects that were once designed to strip us of our beaches, lands, culture, language, identity, spirit, life. Somehow though, we overcame these oppressive death-systems anyway –to forgive the thieves of the past to still be able to move on.
In that regard, we are like Jews and African-Americans. We are more similar to Hawaiians and Native American Indians though in our intrinsic values and connection with earth, place and landscape. Like the Jewish people and our African-American brothers and sisters, we have survived atrocities of the past. For most Indigenous People after such a history in the world – our lives are a witness to the fact that the last will be first, and that we do love ourselves more, than governments or people–who tend to have always taken what they wanted and to pass laws that help them do this without largely being challenged when they are in power and as they come and go. Because we’ve learned a lot through suffering and enduring – for this reason – we are key in world leadership because we have the cultural capitol and the skills like few others do, to make wise leadership choices that are considerate of others.
Because white New Zealanders have lived with Maori for about two centuries now, we have actually made them better people and champions of fairness and human rights (all on our dime – we have pricked their consciences to make them outstanding people)–perhaps more so than any other white people (as a collective community I have met to date) our white Kiwi brothers and sisters are ultimo human-rights conscious in the world. White New Zealanders are amazing people overall. I love them. Basically, we had to fight the evil in them, for them, so they could grow up from inherited cultural bad habits–and now fight for us.
It’s exciting, but they are now showing signs of excelling at human rights awareness in a modern world with intelligent, cultural maturity.
When I look at headlines like “China and the USA square off over human rights” for example, in my heart, I know that this can only happen if both China and America sit down with people like Kiwis and Maori New Zealanders — who have a fair and impartial view as to what good human rights awareness is. That would be very beneficial to both China and the US and their future generations of these nations do this. New Zealand holds many keys in this area for the world’s better future. I have learned after almost five years living in the US as foreign press, that Kiwis (educated Maori-Kiwi in particular) are Super Heroes of Human Rights. It’s our skill and forte.
If America and China don’t do this, we end up with a display of human rights bull sh*t such as this headline in the L.A Times today: “Obama and Hu agree to disagree: The leaders pledge to stabilize Sino-US. ties despite economic and human rights discord.” Meaning China and America pretend to be caring about human rights, but they’re not. They’re just growing stronger economic ties in an imbalanced way without thinking of people being mistreated in both nations while chasing after a buck. That always leads to more discord in the world. It also means that other nations can’t fully trust you – in biz dealings or relationships on any significant level. Falsity is in the mix. Quicksand. Therefore – it is now up to everyone outside of these two nations to call them out on human rights – and not accept this result. How childish, to expect others to do that for you!
From experience, when in constant dialogue about human rights, Maori New Zealanders have learned that non-Maori New Zealanders have also helped us get over our bad cultural habits – so we are better people too and are true depictions of these two images today – in a healthy way. New Zealand culture is exciting. It’s real. It is honest. If you’ve never experienced it – you should travel to New Zealand for at least six weeks. You’ll return a much better person for having done so, and taken the time to just observe and hang out with real, local New Zealand characters. Taking this time – is key.
I’m writing this post as I got proposed to yesterday for marriage, by a complete stranger. I am not Hollywood deluded to believe I am at all remotely that handsome to get such a real offer from a stranger. That honesty led me to the conclusion, that if it is the New Zealand citizenship the world wants – that can be obtained first by getting on a plane and actually visiting the country. I am only one of 4.5 million, so do not represent or speak for all of these people. I speak for me. The rest are far more unique than I am – go see them. You might even fall in genuine love, while there if you have the courtesy to yourself of taking the time.
Two views today. And in New Zealand – we really are both of these strong statements fused into one. A fun country.
Sharing this one – Aotearoa New Zealand’s way today.
Kia kahanui tatou a Aotearoa. And thanks America for thinking so highly of us Maori Kiwi lot. We’re a good gang of funny hobbits overall. Some of us are even hobbits who blog.
* ME = Maori Enterprise. Maori Entrepreneurialship. Maori Economy. Maori Employment. Maori Education (in scientific and medical fields), Maori Equality for all diverse New Zealanders on our ancestors shared New Zealand. And, Maori Expression and ways of being, becoming stronger in the world.
[Written in the spirit of 'tino rangatiratanga' - a legally protected Indigenous Peoples cultural concept of New Zealand law, especially for my mother and her generation--who were once strapped and physically beaten at school by school teachers for speaking the Maori language--and who were punished and heavily censored for writing as honestly as I have here. We talk about it, because we're free. Because we are free, we can talk and write about it openly and transparently. This is the evidence that we are free. And everytime the Maori language is spoken or heard or shared. Even from Hollywood too. Least we forget].
~^Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.20.11~
Many people love my dad, yet dad is the happiest when he’s reading good books and pottering around his garden at home.
Angels wings and a Scottish crown are two things I associate with my dad. As a man, he’s a messanger (angel) who “marches to the beat of a different drum.” His vocabulary is the dazzling expression of his gifted and shiny, Scotts-Kiwi spirit. Poetically, his heart would be full of palm trees for the Polynesian people of the South Pacific Isles where he lived for many years and the people of nations like the Philippines. He speaks Tongan and Fijian and has lived in Samoa too. One of his best mates during dad’s South Pacific years, was an American football star who literally supported dad and our family, along with his daughter Renee who did too. Dad named me after this American footballer as a newborn babe born in Fiji. My dad is the only New Zealander I know of alive, quite like him. His love of Maori and Polynesian people is great. He’s special in this regard.
When I was 7 dad turned down the most amazing job offer ever, to work in Honolulu. In those days, Wiremu Paratene was the only Kiwi getting similar international ‘dream job’ offers, like dad who was in global demand in the 70′s was offered. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, yet dad felt called to stay and remain in Aotearoa New Zealand to work. (I don’t think I’ve ever really forgiven dad that his kids weren’t raised in the hot tropics hotness that is Hawaii. Like – it’s not like we had a say ever, when he turned down that offer. As a result, some of his kids visit Hawaii a lot to this day – Thanks dad!).
Although we fiercely disagree on some issues of opinion, I love him and have always been so proud of him. Go dad!!!
This crown on wood artwork sort of defines my dad’s life’s work and legacy–except the wooden edges of this artistic representation would have to be more furnace-charred brown-black because of all the battles he’s fought and endured in life as a pioneer and visionary man and the furnaces of adversity he’s triumphed through as a Kiwi. Jealousy is something he’s endured his entire life.
I inherited my disposition to endure from him. My fun streak, definitely comes from my fun-loving, people-fixated, very social, manaaki-infused Maori mom. My folks are like chalk and cheese. You couldn’t find two people more different. Their marriage symbolizes the founding story of New Zealand identity today. When you’re born into biculturalism, outside of New Zealand shores – you perhaps expect a lot more politically and culturally from New Zealand than what is occurring. I was raised to be patient, so that’s all good. Los Angeles has provided a multi-cultural reality that my folks birthed their children into as a global-Kiwi family. I love L.A for that reason. The folks are a little peculiar, but they rock in their own unique way.
My dad’s heart has always been for the poor of the world. Of them he is a leader from far away distant shores. He is a father to many people in many nations. In spirit, dad has muscle. He surrounds himself with like-minded people of spirit who have muscle too. One day, I might write dad’s story. It will be full of photographs of the lives and faces dad felt it a privilege to know as his friends and to share all he was, is and had with them and their people. He broke his life open and is like a vessel willing to be poured out for others. Dad is one of the most selfless Kiwis I know. He is servant hearted. In this regard, in his own way, he has always been regal in spirit to me.
Dad is by far the greatest male influence in my life. His light has never been extinguished or diminished in my heart or memories- even during extremely dark years and times. In Spirit, he’s quite a man. Like all of dad’s six children, I am his letter to the world – perhaps the messiest ‘work in progress’ he can claim co-authorship of. My life’s letter is meant to be one of Peace (his 6′ 4 tall, American football friend’s vision of who I was as a newborn baby, spoken as he held me in his hands on the eighth day I was born, his spoken Peace-words like a prophesy an American great gave me to live up to at birth). The black and white photograph of this moment is the most vivid image my memory holds of a photographic image.
Of the near-death experiences I have been spared from here in Hollywood – during such surreal moments beyond your control- that one photograph would flash before my eyes and I would hear very clearly, one word, in each of these incidences. That word was spoken resolutely in a manner that only my father would say it, and it was a very clear and resounding “No!” – meaning death could not take me. I have felt closest to my dad in such moments being abroad. Although I aspire to be ‘a man of Peace’ like my American namesake spoke over my life at birth, yet, ironically – so far, havoc and Tom foolery has been my Hollywood forte. Oops.
No one in Hollywood seems to mind – I just blend right in here, but I know it kills dad! He expects much more from me in making a difference that’s real in the world where most needed. Dad is not impressed by celebrity or celebrities per se. He detests iconography too as a rule – perhaps why even selecting iconic artwork to celebrate dad’s life – is kinda funny. However, dad does have a passion for typology for spiritual purposes and interpreting meaning in the world. Along with a buddy, Rod Harris, dad is gifted at interpreting ‘types.’ Unsung heroes who do amazing real things for the world that will outlast their own lifetimes, are dad’s ilk of interest. Dad is extremely responsible. I am like his father – a fine showman and an eternal teenager I loved. Sorry pop – but we can’t all be the same. I’m still getting there – in my own comedic way and very creative timing. :)
My most favorite trait of dad’s life, is that he knows a spirit of gratitude. When I reflect that on this blog, I am most reflecting his appreciation and respect of Life and that too of my American namesake. Both men were masters at combatting racism.
I was thinking how toku whanau (mai family) have been in cross-cultural family-dialogue with American people for 45 years now. It’s finally good to be here in the US and to see and be firsthand! ‘Good things take time’ as the saying goes. I’m kinda looking forward to the next 45 years where my family and me continue to be a part of an American-Kiwi story, especially with a South Pacific Peoples focus that is actually about them.
One of my dreams is to visit Scotland with dad – particularly Graham’s town where his family of wine merchants, men of the cloth and seafaring government officials, Maori-speaking Schottische brillante magistrates hail from. There’s so much to look forward to in the future – like creating new family memories.
[Some Horiwood trivia for you today in Hollywood. Gold angels wings and Crown Diamonds Schottische Brillante photographs snapped five minutes ago in West Hollywood. Artwork courtesy of the Lemon Tree Bungalow home store].
~^Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.14.11~
Right! Only in America.
Freshly snapped.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.3.11~
KEYWORDS CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE FOR BLOG MUST-HAVE-THESE-WORDS PURPOSES – NO REAL HARM INTENDED:
Manwood as a buzz word with port and more port? And did you know that aphabetically the names Portwood and Portman come just before the name “Prince.”
Go here to read the two women whose faces have been picked to fuel news content as a news trend on Google.Com 2011.
Already this paring of Port Port (man wood) names sounds like a Balvenie Navy Recruitment exercise via American Film, Reality TV and Scotland’s UK navy pilot’s liquor cabinet. – using American pop culture (visual arts) to achieve that. Balvenie Enterprises has a distillary in Dufftown, it is ‘unlike all other single malt Scotch whiskies, thanks to a unique combination of human craft and natural alchemy. Neither our craft nor nature’s mysteries have changed in over a century.’
Incidently, when you type in “portwood” as a random word on google, the second image that comes up after ‘single malt port’ is this tomb stone pic of some dude named William D. Portwood of Nashville Tennessee, allegedly a military lad who died 1940. Either side of ‘Williams’ names on the cemetary’s website are people who allegedly died in the 19th Century of America. One of them has a name “poteet” – as if anyone was really called that. It would be petite. Not poteet as this would just sound like a “Strawberry Fields Forever Fair festival via Texas on wedding invites of smug families of the world, who happen to be named Bush not Kate Bush but forrest bush (English for Woods)” when it is not. That’s as stupid as tweeting the “pot” word (OR SALVIA) as an American expression that the democratic process has evolved via twitter in Scottish gaelic.
GYPSY No. 5 FASHION RETAIL BILLBOARD ART USA, MISS TESSA PORTRAIT AND FIVE THINGS
Alright today in Hollywood I notice that Gypsy no.5 pins its fashion retail sales hopes on a ‘white horse’ billboard. The photograph was snapped against grey sky backdrops on La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood CA 90069. Good luck to Gypsy no.5 with this marketing lead, a tribute (perhaps) to violet-days of National Velvet Hollywood cinematic history as well as emerging world trends. Cute billboard marketing.
We also celebrate today with an art portrait snapped by Kiwi-American artist-fashion emerging star, Miss Tessa. Hopefully I’m forgiven for sharing this picture as blogging on a budget Hollywood paparazzi-o today. :) Probably not! However, sharing is art so I’m going with it. I first saw Miss Tessa creating artwork when she was 16. Her work was a giant mural for dyslexia awareness, so she’s a good one. Art for good causes is not a bad start in the art world. A charity benefitted from Miss Tessa’s first exhibited work. She exhibited at a cross-cultural red carpet film event depicting Latino actors being filmed in Christchurch, Canterbury – the Garden City.
Years later this city would be struck tragically by earthquake devastation. Both Russell Crowe and supermodel Rachel Hunter offer commentary on how to help this city.
Anyway here’s 5 things you’re looking in Hollywood on a day where California said farewell to a legend in Dame Elizabeth Taylor being laid to rest beside Michael Jackson. These five things are -
1. Dita Von Tesse‘s twitter couture for Marie Claire Russia is out there
2. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie film make together offshore for a change.
3. Movie script premise, conspiracy theory spooky humor – World Bank and US
4. Black racism by Miami police needs a word in oil slicked recovering Miami
5. Basketball fans humor – All Stars Unite – Kobe Bryant, Jay-Z & Beyonce
Bonus Post 1: US at the box office – I Am China by Jayden Smith & Jackie Chan
Bonus Post 2: Paramatta Eels footballers are saving Ireland’s traveling youth via Fiji in Aussie land
Bonus Post 3: MAORI HIJAB KOROWAI CLOAK Leadership – Like Maori legends who walk for justice
Hollywood Media Outlets covering Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s epic contribution to Hollywood culture and the world today as she crossed her finishing line too are - E!: Hollywood News; Hollywood Reporter; Access Hollywood;Hollywood.Com; ET Online; Deadline.Com; Celebrity Gossip; Young Hollywood.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.24.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 25, 2011 in Art, artist, California, China, Christchurch, Compassion, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Fashion, Fashion Designers, Florida, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood Today, Humor, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Marketing and Branding, Miss Tessa, New Zealand, Photography, Pop Cultural Commentary, Signs of The Times, West Hollywood, Young Hollywood