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Category Archives: Trends

GOOGLE SNAP SHOTS OF AMERICA’S MIND – 4.4.11 @ 2.33am

Alright… here we go. From googles most searched terms in the USA in this minute, as noted from Hollywood – the entertainment capitol of the USA. These are the topics the most Americans have searched for…

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~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 4.3.11~

 

SCANNING DIVERSE NATION’S IP AND WORDS FROM BOOKS – GOOGLE’S DIGITAL LIBRARY HITS A HICCUP

This one for Google, my most used information sharing website company.

No matter where new ideas, new stories stem from writers in the world, we must never remove the incentive to block their payment and IP conveyed in their typed words in digital or print formats.–Freedom of expression 2010′s.

New ideas and new insights from writers help better preserve the planet, as well as sharing insights into better human rights, we may not have yet considered. Writers should always be paid for good ideas conveyed in their thoughts and typed words.

A federal judge in New York has allegedly derailed Google’s bold plan to build the world’s largest digital library and bookstore. With 15 million books [already] scanned, Google had gotten closer to the elusive goal than anyone else.

We wanted to “make the cultural and scientific heritage of humanity available, free of charge, to all. People feel energized,” said Robert Darnton, the director of the Harvard University Library, who recently praised Google’s Scan Every Single Book In The World Project and make it available free online, in an opinion article in The New York Times.

“This is an opportunity for those of us who care about creating a noncommercial public digital library to get on with it,” writes Michael Heft today.

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The strange thing about scanning every nation’s books, is that the writers of these books don’t get paid in the process. It turns writers into slaves. It’s intelligent not to turn writer’s into slaves, because of the concept of ‘laborers are worthy of their fair hire.’ On a scientific level, yes it must be a disappointment. But all of the mouth pieces in this story, aren’t working for free. They get paid wages to say these things. If their wages were lost, like writer’s and independent voices royalty payments are lost in the ‘scientific’ collection of words, they wouldn’t be chirping this same tune.

What this means is that the public won’t get to view all books from all authors. From 15 million books already scanned, google is able to track digitally the highest trending key words, most people like the best. That’s a good experiment to date.

I am from a nation where our Indigenous writers thoughts are viewed as taonga that cannot be stolen without payment. IP is about having your own. Sharing it when you want to. Buying it fairly when needed – but most of all, not stifling new thought from writers by strangling the incentive for them to write new work and be rewarded for it.

Keeping in line with this principle, as I never paid the New York Times for use of writer Miguel Helft’s journalistic skills above, I trust that adding to Miguel’s thoughts in this post, and with a link to his story, offers some kind of sharing support back to this writer in payment of his words, time and thoughts. The photographers too.

Miguel notes, ‘The idea of scanning every book ever published captivated Larry Page, co-founder of Google, even before he started the company. In 2002, he set out to refute skeptics, who said the idea was unworkable. He set up a makeshift scanning device at Google to see how many books could be scanned in an hour.” 8 years later, 15 million books had been scanned.  Read the rest of this entry »

 

CAFE TALK ON US PASTOR BURNS QUR’AN, AFGHANI MUSLIMS MURDER 12 UNITED NATIONS PEEPS – AND WHY IS THIS EVEN HAPPENING?!

An offer to save the Nasdaq from Germany’s ownership has Wall Street popping open the bolli today.

The front cover of the Wall Street Journal offsets stock market news with the tragic news involving UN workers being slaughtered. The story is pitted as a ‘religious war.’ Kinda.

Alan Kurtz of All Voices gives us this story with links – “In a bold stroke of religious one-upmanship, Terry Jones who has confessed to burning a copy of Qur’ an on US soil, has shifted blame from himself to Muslims for the massacre of 12 men at the United Nations Assistance Mission at Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan on April 1, 2011. Seven UN workers and five protestors were killed when a demonstration against Jones’s Qur’an burning turned violent.

The UN fatalities included three civilian aid workers from Sweden, Norway and Romania, and four Nepalese security guards. The incident began at Friday prayers, during which mullahs angrily incited worshipers to avenge the Qur’an burning. Thousands of rioters throwing rocks, wielding AK-47s, burning the U.S. flag and chanting “Death to America,” quickly overran and set fire to the UN compound.

Yet instead of issuing a mea culpa and making the talk-show rounds to contritely say “My bad,” Pastor Jones called the attacks a “tragic and criminal action” and demanded retaliation against the perpetrators by the U.S. government and the United Nations. “The time has come to hold Islam accountable,” he declared. “We must hold these countries and people accountable for what they have done as well as for any excuses they may use to promote their terrorist activities.”

Cafe Talk on the Matter – Joe and Michael swerve in to the next door table at the cafe in West Hollywood, we talk about this. Both are in their 70′s getting coffee before going to see a local play. They’re IT savvy grey powered people.

Joe says: “This whole thing is celebrity driven. It’s like people will do anything to get their 15 minutes of fame. They’ll kill UN workers. Whatever, just to get it. There’s vulnerable people in the world, programmed by others to do such things. I totally blame Facebook and movie stars. No, I blame Oprah. She started it on her show. We loved it, when people confessed big moments of meaning in their life to us all. Now there’s all those reality TV shows, Oprah started that. But really, I blame our American movie stars who get these ridiculous salaries and every one thinks Facebook culture offers them an opportunity to be one of them. All of this, “how many people are following me” stuff, is all a load of nonsense.”

Yes, many times it is. I try and look innocent.

Read the rest of this entry »

 

CRICKETER SACHIN TENDULKAR HAS HIS FANS, GOOGLE BEING ONE TOO

Here in the USA we all know who Sasha Fierce is, we know who Sasha Obama is… but do we know who Sachin Tendulkar is? That is the question in sports news today. Google is a big fan of this sportsman.

According to Mid-day.ComSachin Tendulkar is the most searched cricketer while Twitter and Facebook are flooded with messages and updates on the big game

While cricket enthusiasts from remote corners of the country are flocking to Mohali to grab a piece of the action from the India-Pakistan semi-final, on the internet, the game is on. According to Google Trends, before reaching Mohali, people have been searching for tickets for the semi-final, hotels to stay and travel ticket availability. Maximum searches are coming from Karnataka, followed by Delhi and Maharashtra. Surprisingly Punjab is not on the list of top three states searching for the big game.

[Photo caption - Hot favourite: Children cheer for Sachin Tendulkar and the Indian team
in New Delhi on Tuesday, before they take on Pakistan in the World Cup
semi-final match. PIC/Rajeev Tyagi
].

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood Calfornia USA. 3.29.11~

 

HUMAN HACKERS, SOCIAL ENGINEERING – THE BOOK REVIEW BY BEN BROTHKE

Recently a friend sent me a link to the book review by Ben Brothke on the much talked about book in Hollywood, Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking, penned by Christopher Hadnagy and published by Wiley.

Hollywood is divided into two tribes of filmmakers. There’s those that unpicked social engineering by offering views of living different than what we may perceive to be good living. Avatar‘s green planet conservation film text over destroying the earth in war, was one such powerful moment. Or, on the other hand, Hollywood too can be involved in filmmaking to program people with texts of new trends (sometimes propanda – all cinemas do this to varying degrees with view points offered) embedded in films to help social engineering people along the lines of new orders of power, or, prescribing the ‘new norms’ of social behavior.

For these two reasons, I’ll give you some snippets of Ben’s review on the topic of social engineering (people hackers) as a courtesy to the friend who shared the link. Here we go.

A person’s brain (or mind) can be hacked like a computer. Christopher Hadnagy describes social engineering as being like a science of manipulation of humans. He writes  ‘tools are an important aspect of social engineering, but they do not make the social engineer. A tool alone is useless; but the knowledge of how to leverage and utilize that tool is invaluable.’

Studies on how people have been hacked reveal two important books before Hadnagy’s. These Kevin Mitnick’s The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security and The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders and Deceivers.

Hadnagy advances the social engineering (observational science of the process) by detailing how attacks take place. He writes, the social engineer needs to use a formal context for the attack.

Information gathering is the game. (We saw this in wikileaks for example with a global scandal in foreign affairs ‘secrets’ being spilled to other nations). Brothke writes ‘Social engineering is often misportrayed as the art of asking a question or two and then gaining root access. In chapter 3 on elicitation, the author details the reality of the requirements on how to carefully and cautiously elicit information from the target. Elicitation is not something for the social engineer alone, even the US Department of Homeland Security has a pamphlet (Pdf) that is used to assist agents with elicitation.

Read the rest of this entry »

 

LOS USA – LATINO POPULATIONS GROW FASTER WITH WIDER SPREAD

The Wall Street Journal updates us on the changing face of America. Latino populations are the burgeoning youth and energy of the USA.

308.7 million people are in the USA, Census of 2010 results showed.

In addition, the Latino population is responsible for more than half of the nation’s growth.

When we send troops to war, Hispanic-American babies are the babies we are protecting along with all other babies in the US.

Cute! If ever there was a good time to take up those long awaited Espanol lessons… now is a good a time as any. :)

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.25.11~

 
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Posted by horiwood on March 26, 2011 in America, Espanol, Hispanic-Americans, Trends

 

JOBS NEWS RATES BIG IN THE USA RIGHT NOW -3.24.11

are the no.1 trending topic in the USA at the time of writing. Whether that’s a Steve Jobs (Apple Inc) reference, or, an employment focused trend within the USA J.O.B.S is on most peoples minds online right now.

Good to see. We can create new jobs ourselves, or, look to others to supply them. The future is up to US. I see many people in their 20′s and 30′s in Hollywood working together creating their own jobs every day. They inspire for America. Many billboards in Hollywood are also running a slogan “create your own luck” as well. Perhaps this offers hope too for Jobs trenders right now as well. Karawhiua… go for it!

As I write this, a bro tells me they’re looking for another job asap. Fair enough too.

If radiation levels are your focus then it’s Steve Jobs comments that interest you. One member of The Twitter community has this to say – “‎ Steve Jobs personally rejects cellphone radiation level app emailing the makers:’no interest’  & ‎ - gnmagazine.org. ‎ - dailymail.co.uk. Twitter - 

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.24.11~

 
 

COSTCO ROMANCE – THE SUPERMARKET GIANT EXPANDS INTO WEDDING DRESSES

Wedding dresses are now available as Costco expands their product market.

I blame Will & Kate for this new supermarket trend. JK. Costco are betting big time on April 29th’s big show day.

I like the idea that marriage is not about expense though. Imagine though, ‘your special day’ (what marriage has been viewed as being in the past after births, deaths, 21sts, birthdays etc), is now at your aisles reach, when grocery shopping. Remarkable really!

That’s irey.

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.19.11~

 

WSJ JOURNAL ASK – SO WHO SHOULD GET THE ARM REST ON LONG FLIGHTS?

That’s such a good question. Flying etiquette, arm rest etiquette has suddenly taken on a new meaning in the US.

The WSJ asks all of those questions regarding ‘ethics and etiquette to survive cramped seats, crying kids and stinky food at 30,000 feet.’

The big question is who gets the arm rest? The story made me laugh.

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.17.11~

 
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Posted by horiwood on March 18, 2011 in Democracy, Travel Destinations, Trends

 

UNLOCK CLEAN ENERGY SAY THE AUSSIES

This pic shows a rising sentiment for clean energy, as expressed by Australia.

I can’t remember where I sourced the pic from, I guess I’m doing an Arianna Huffington on this one, and posting it without a credit. Oops. I almost feel a little bit like a New Yorker media person just now in doing so. :)

A powerful message for the planet. UNLOCK GREEN ENERGY! The rest is all BS.

Believe it or not, these people holding these placards are some of the wisest and fairest people on the planet in this moment. They have an important view.

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.13.11~

 

JULIA GILLARD TAKES A DIP IN POPULARITY POLLS, AUSTRALIA

In the agenda of Carbon Tax Setting in the world, let’s not shoot the forerunner messenger of the message. She’s just a baby getting started…

Pollsters have again blamed the carbon tax proposition for a mild dip in new Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard‘s popularity in the latest results of a political opinion poll survey.

‘Today’s Nielsen poll, published in the Sydney Morning Herald, puts Ms Gillard’s approval rating at 47 per cent, the lowest since she took office.’

The survey revealed 39% of people prefer have a fond sport for Kevin Rudd as Labor leader, putting him five points ahead of Ms Gillard. The Coalition leads Labor on the two-party preferred vote, 54 points to 46.. News source- AGENCIES (undefined) via The New Zealand Herald.

You know, anyone that can wow the US Congress from another nation like Gillard did last week, reaffirming that Aussies are ‘great mates’ with well, everyone, especially America, perhaps deserves a little bit more respect than this. Clearly this girl has good skills. She’s like Kate Blanchett. Respect worthy. Yet the good people of Australia have voted. So, here in LA, our eyes have noticed. Competitive parliaments are the best for the people. Fairness is achieved –perhaps is what these polls indicate. So far I like Julia. She’s to the point and certainly not the dullest of crayons in the box. Go lady! :)

Other nations take on Ms Gillard’s leadership profile to date, who President Obama defines as his strongest ally (based solely on war commitment criteria) have these fews on Ms Gillard today.

Unimpressed voters still shun Abbott- Sydney

Americans adore Julia Gillard but Aussies not big on gushing–UK

[PHOTOGRAPH of Ms Gillard and President Obama, courtesy of Third Age]

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.13.11~

 

SCOTT DISICK GETS REAL, ADDRESSES SELF CENTEREDNESS PRICK FACTOR – AND 5 HOLLYWOOD THINGS – 3.13.11 3.30pm

It is the art of the American reality star to be as honest as one possibly can while turning out a show in the USA, offering commentary on culture.

After all, this is the job of the reality TV star, in the age of ‘reality television’ and the lucrative deals that follow (not for the show) but with endorsements. It’s millionaire-making terrain.

The Kardashian-Jenner family rule this entertainment platform in the USA (there’s so many of them, they’re able to cover trends, sort of like subtle moss in a jiffy!).

Scott Disick has the job of justifying the firms already shot TV series that have all already been filmed, in light of current global crises occurring all around us in the world. He’s a good lad. Thank goodness for tabloids, as what’s missing in the show content’s relevance, this family can make up for, in new tabloid stories.

Here’s what Scott has to say today, ”You know, I just realized there’s bigger things in the world than just being a selfish, self-centered, prick,” Disick, 27, told PEOPLE recently at the Famous Stars and Strikes Event benefiting A Place Called Home at Pinz Bowling Alley in Studio City, Calif. Scott’s comments were also made in relation to his recent stance to ‘give up the booze.’ It’s like dude, moderation man! His comments are good today.

We all have self-centeredness to work on and re-prioritize in light of a world we actually increasingly share more in being a part of, so I welcome Scott’s comments today. Trending sentiments for the USA even. Today Disick looks like a reality TV show guru. :)

Here’s 5 things we’re voting and sharing as social media in Hollywood right now.

1. Fukushina Iwaki Japan evacute 170,000 in nuclear meltdown scare

2. Polynesian’s greatest boy band Nesian Mystik are humble and Hawaii-50

3. Model citizen Christopher Chandler

4. The Bush family have a budding writer

5. Petra Nemcova inspires with real life experiences – Love her!

I gotta admit, I am slightly into Kim and Kourtney‘s new show. I must miss my sisters and their cool and very diverse families.

Some media outlets in the USA thinking about others in Japan right now are: Kausfiles (Slate)kottke.orgLeft, Right and CenterThe Moderate VoiceNDN BlogThe Notion (Nation)Oxdown GazettePandagonABCAccess HollywoodAl JazeeraAOL NewsAssociated PressBBCBloombergBoston GlobeC-SPANCBSChicago Sun-TimesChicago Tribune

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.13.11~

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – TSUNAMI FASHION – TWO VIEWS

Two views today, let’s US know where Wall Streets head is at via The Wall Street Journal.

It’s with Japan’s Tsunami people and with fashion trends, picks and selections via the Catwoman “One Sheet.”

Go figure!

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.12.11~

 

ONE YEAR AGO – TSUNAMI WARNINGS FOR HAWAII, MARSHALL ISLANDS AND SAMOA IN WAKE OF CHILE EARTHQUAKE

ONE YEAR AGO - TSUNAMI WARNINGS FOR HAWAII, MARSHALL ISLANDS AND SAMOA IN WAKE OF CHILE EARTHQUAKE.

 
 

INSIDE HORIWOOD’S TRENDING HAT, HOLLYWOOD -3.1.11

Did someone want to see teen love in the form of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez kissing? Yeah, most of you did.

I can’t believe I’m posting this. It’s like blogging peda-porn snog pics and I never signed up for this!!!! My true American story!

Lol…. Anyway, here we go! Teen puppy love the Canada-Disney way looks like the above pic via Celebuzz. Very sweet teen friends. And Natalie Portman in a woolen hat doing a romance show, isn’t bad either. Romance is big! Commitment in love is the timeless trend returning to Hollywood for Young America. I like it.

Here’s some hot topics on your warped and twisted minds. ;) Let’s roll! From inside the Horiwood hat, here’s what search engines are driving this way. I am so Z-listed! But thanks Google!!!

selena gomez and justin bieber
megan fox
lady gaga’s boyfriend
ryan seacrest julianne hough
levi johnston
adam frankel
the jackson siblings
natalie portman
adrien brody halle berry
lena horne quotes
ryan reynolds
joshua leifer poem
angel in ch.ch.
Read the rest of this entry »
 

TEE SHIRT PERSONALITIES, WEST HOLLYWOOD for YOUNG HOLLYWOOD

Hot at the moment in the tee shirt department is this whole layered look effect going on for Young Hollywood, as featured on Melrose, West Hollywood’s fashion district.

The idea is to choose a celebrity that most reflects the mood, sentiment you’d like to portray. Use the face as your signifier, then layer different looks on top. Sorta like a Facebook page really, aint it?

Or a blog.

Simple, yet now. With this combo, you are sort of wearing a tie. Yet not.

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.1.11~

 

CHRIS BROWN GOES BLONDE – WHAT WE’RE PEEPING IN THE USA, OSCARS DAY 2011 @ 1.45pm

“I am on a drug. It’s called Charlie Sheen,” Charlie Sheen tells People Magazine. Ridiculous!

On the day baseball legend, Duke Snider passed out of this ball park life, Charlie Sheen talks benders, to distract the 100,000 Wisconsin protestors appealing Scott Walkers‘ enslaving propositions for union workers labor. Fox and CNN ignored their voices. It was called a media blackout day. We hear and see the faces of Egypt. Yemen. Bahrain. Tunisia. Libya, again and again and again. Wisconsin gets added to that list.

A blonde Chris Brown tweets ”look at me “  talks love. ‘s are on everyone’s minds in LA. Things British pick up steam like soccer teams winning from Birmingham. Kadafi provides the dark, here in the USA.

Ten posts we’re sharing in Hollywood are:

1. Obama & Clinton on Libya’s Situation

2. Kris Jenner

3. Eminem

4. Oscars 1946 – Grace Kelly + Audrey Hepburn

5. Julia Roberts

6. Elijah Wood

7. Oscars 1993 – Swifty + Liz

8. Rugby Football - Sports star pick

9. 29

10. Helena Ataya

have heat too, along with the hot topic of . 

Media Outlets Covering Oscars news today are - The RootSalonSan Francisco ChronicleSlateTIMETimes Of LondonTMZUSA TodayVanity FairWall Street JournalWashington IndependentWashington TimesWashington PostRead the rest of this entry »

 

EMINEM HOLDS FACEBOOK’S NO.1 SPOT

Eminem becomes the most ‘liked’ living artist on Facebook. Facebook really “likes” Eminem. Mr vanilla hip hop King of the USA, with 28,883,000 “likes” is now no.1 if you care about Famecount.com, which generates statistics for Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
At 500,000 “likes” a day, if the trend continues, he could take the title off the most “liked” artist ever: Michael Jackson. Outside of American stars being ‘liked’ – who else is being most liked. Facebook is a global community, is it not? Evidence of sharing needed with stars and people outside of the US, please. Let’s not be insecure. But congrats to Eminem on being President Obama’s reflection on FB. That’s some fierce online heat being chalked up from this guy.  :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.24.11~
 

NO.1 KIWI IN HOLLYWOOD RIGHT NOW – RUGBY FOOTBALL STAR, SONNY BILL WILLIAMS – HORIWOOD.COM -2.24.11 @ 6.45


 

Top trending Kiwi on Horiwood.Com in Hollywood today is a rugby football player. America will get to see this lad play live at the Rugby World Cup this year as televised by Universal NBC Sports/ Comcast broadcasting.

Photograph of Sonny Bill Williams, rugby football star of Te Ao–The Big Family of Tattoos Blog.

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.24.11~

 

THE ESETEVEZ FAMILY ADDRESS AMERICA’S FOSSIL FUELS ADDICTION PROBLEM, VIA CHARLIE’S “TRAINWRECKED” TABLOID LIFE

“I think politics dominates everything so much, that guys like us are restricted. We can’t do much. We can’t move much. We can’t travel much. Our life’s choices are so limited,”says one Starbucks barista to another as I write this blog post from Hollywood. These guys are mid thirties. They were born in America.

Never have truer words been said of America’s youth today. Since the George W. Bush (years of politics – not the man per se), reign of leadership? in the world and the deficit situation of the USA’s positioning on a global stage, Americans have pretty much been kept within US borders. Can’t argue with honest people, actually working with their hands on the topic each day. They have my attention with a vision of honesty and truth. But it’s not working for them.

In local Hollywood news via Britain…

Martin Sheen is doing way too much pretending to be a concerned show biz dad. Via The UK, Estevez Sr., says to Sky: “He’s doing well. We pray for him. If he had cancer, how would you treat him? This disease of addiction is a form of cancer. You have to have an equal measure of concern and love and lift him up.”

If you replace the word ‘addiction’ for ‘oil’ or ‘coal’ or ‘fuel’ or ‘debt’ or ‘war’ what would that say about US all? A few things.

Based on the headlines though that Esteban’s son, Charlie Sheen clocks up globally each week, the ‘Sheen Addiction’ ‘male-trainwreck show’ is a vibe that most people in the world, find amusing.

They’re a strong family. Hollywood fit. The answer is always “Peace.” A good story from a Hollywood great on a global problem. Green energy’s development, all the way… I say!

Alright then, it’s time a hardworking honest American, served this Maori-Kiwi another coffee in Hollywood. The blatino guy, goes by his Hispanic-American name. Chaa! :)

[Emilio Estevez appears with his dad, Martin Estevez/ Sheen in the pic also via the UK]

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.23.11~

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – 2.19.11

Bahrain dominates the Wall Street Journals news coverage this weekend as the death toll increases.

Times are a changing. And whenever, the price of gas goes up, sports cars suddenly get hotter for the rich as a symbol of power.

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.19.11~

 
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Posted by horiwood on February 20, 2011 in oil, Trends, Wall Street Culture

 

IS GOOGLE ABOUT TO GET ALL ARI EMANUEL ON US – $100 MILLION CELEBRITY BEEF UP

Democracy is a process that serves key trends the people indicate they need, and, that can also be bought through platforms and oracles of persuasion that creates a heard instinct of pubic opinion, that then becomes law–Horiwood on Demoracy through IT and Social Media 2010′s. In the art of American Celebrity, celebrities are always the bait, the people want to hear opinion from.

[Pic caption - Ari Emanuel, Peter Berg, Amanda Anka and Jason Bateman at the New York Giants Celebration Party on January 26, 2008 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Peter Berg Celebrates Steve Tisch and The NY Giants Incredible Season Regent Beverly Whilshire Hotel Beverly Hills, CA United States January 28, 2008 Photo by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com]

I notice here from Hollywood that the concept of a digital grass-roots media revolution is all the go with IT media conglomerates, mergers and strategies. It’s all about growing online IT properties, by creating windows of growth and expansion in the Facebook way of connecting communities together.

We had AOL snuffle up Arianna Huffington and friends for $315 million recently, as AOL merged with her blog. Arianna has largely built the Huffington Post with volunteer columnists. IT grows with new words being written and acquired into IT templates. The fat cats of IT sit back, while little people wittingly (or unwittingly) build their IT assets by typing their words into it and cross pollinating links to the other social media (or IT) websites too, thus also building up an IT owner’s assets. AOL hopes to use Arianna’s profile and tone, to incite community journalism in all of the 50 states of the USA and other nations too. A key driver is original video upload content from communities being created (for free) and shared on their merged-owned web properties. I guess they’re competing for words and video uploads trying to take on YouTube’s market.

Well Google looks set to do the same thing. Yet, Google is not so cheap. They’re prepared to do an Ariel Emanuel and shell out $100 million to hand pick celebrities to drive a similar strategy. San Francisco Chronicle examines Google’s rumored intentions today to follow in the same veign. What follows is their commentary on the matter. Quite interesting. Here it isRead the rest of this entry »

 

A JEFFERSON DAVIS QUOTE AND USA TODAY’S FRONT PAGE FEATURES COWBOY WESTERN CULTURE – 2.17.11

The people of Wisconsin are a little peeved today. Public demonstrations due to budget cuts reactions. And in ‘public demonstration news’ an enactment today features an actor playing Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy – a divisive moment in US history 150 years ago. A famous quote of Jefferson Davis is:

“[Our situation] illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established.”
Jefferson Davis quote

Cowboy Western culture is also kind of trending in entertainment costumery in the USA today. We only need to look at a pop star like Lady Gaga to see that dress up is a favorite American thing to do. What else can we say about that trend? She’s got every day of the week covered. Or, you can just wear a cowboy hat for low maintenance American costume culture purposes too.

Wisconsin is ‘ground zero’ for battle over unions

China expected to import more grain to U.S.

Oil companies say they’re ready for new spills

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.17.11~

 
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Posted by horiwood on February 18, 2011 in America, Cowboy Culture, Jefferson Davis, Trends, Westerns

 

IN THE REAL WORLD, OIL CONTROL AND BUDGET BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN VIA WALL STREET JOURNAL NEWS – 2.15.11

A budget battle is certainly cheaper news-creating fodder than an Afghani war show. That is THIS YEAR’S White House agenda, I see.

Today on the cover of the Wall Street Journal (my favorite newspaper at the minute, sorry Los Angeles Times!), Budget Battle Lines are Drawn takes top billing on the front page of The Wall Street Journal to keep America’s masses distracted and amused. Mushrooming health and retirement programs are listed as being the big killer, of Obama’s budget plans being more successful.

Obama’s goverment is said to “offer tax increases and spending cuts, but avoids big fiscal issues.” Riveting stuff to be fought over via Washington DC, apparently.

In addition, every nation of the world is supposed to have a revolution of culture right now. Like Iran, is supposed to follow Egypt’s wake of revolution and overthrow their government’s system of rule – and go for Twitter, Facebook, Google (internet) Apple culture as well – the promise of democracy and freedom. That also makes the front page. The central star that all news is revolving around, appears to be OIL. 

Read the rest of this entry »

 

KISSING ROCKS – STING STYLER STARBUCKS KISSING NEWS WITH SHERIL KIRSHENBAUM BOOKS – 2.15.11

About a gazillion blog posts ago, here in Hollywood I once shared a news story that “Kissing is medically proven to reduce stress.” This was way before the American people worked out they was a ‘global economic recession’ mirroring ‘the great depression of 1930′s’ in world history on the cards.

It was way before politicians started busking for their supper in America, asking people to be patient because we all needed a ‘stimulus plan’ in order for ‘war budgets to be increased’ and ‘before we were all supposed to be cast in recovery narratives’ that then became reflected in our pop culture.’

That original blog post can be read here, written two years ago, to the day starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie swapping spit at the Oscars Awards ceremony one year back. Where else would you kiss but at the Oscars, right?

Today when I turn on my lap top in the local Hollywood cafe, Starbucks coffee communities web page, is running with a story that gives you free online access to read . I kid you not.

I’m like – if you don’t know how to kiss by now, that’s sad. Maori-Kiwis have kissing sussed out by the age of 13. Maybe 15 if a slow blooming kisser. It’s all about lip shapes and whether they are juicy or not – that will decide the nature of a good kisser. Who said kissing was a science? There was never a text book on it when our ancestors first sailed on down to Aotearoa-New Zealand with a language similar to native Hawaiians, but different. But Kiwis have always been the best kissers.

Why the need to over-discuss in paper form, the science of kissing, I ask today? Isn’t a kiss best given from the heart? Like art? 

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TRUE LOVE WAITS TATTOOS ARE HOT RIGHT ALONG WITH THESE NAMES 2.14.11

Ta Moko Maori artistry.

He aroha tika tonu.

Trending Names fed to Horiwood.Com by Search Engines around the Globe are:

jessica simpson, eric johnson
kim kardashian cover
megan fox
selena gomez and justin bieber
elizabeth taylor richard burton
emma roberts
alex meraz
megan fox wedding
jessica simpson
stephanie germanotta
kim kardashian artist photos
emma watson breast
coco chanel sketches
norah jones, john mayer and keith ledger
pres. obama’s budget pdf file
benny hinn divorce
kim kardashian
tramaine hawkins
lady louise windsor eyes
coco austin Read the rest of this entry »
 
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Posted by horiwood on February 15, 2011 in Trends

 

OIL BILLIONAIRE HIPPY J. PAUL GETTY DIES AT 56 AND THE HORIWOOD TOP TEN – TUE 2.8.11

What goes up, must come down is something that Einstein shared with the world as a scientific truism and theory on the topic of gravity.

In unrelated news, sadly an oil baron heir died today as the price of oil has skyrocketed this month due to the ‘Egypt crises’ being sighted as the reason of the oil price hike. The man who dies was the father of a Hollywood actor in the TV series Sons & Daughters.

When I looked at our top ten I thought the patriot act, sac capital news, Balthazar Getty pics, swiss twins news, windows phone 7 update, fixodent’s magic for American smiles, carmelo news, Christina Arguilera news, super bowl commercials or Lady Gaga sneaking in Born This Way publicity was going to make our top ten. Thankully, Christina Arguilera didn’t disappointment. Sometimes it pays to present yourself as ‘not the brightest crayon in the box’ and to forget a few things every now and again.

In Hollywood entertainment news we loved today, here’s how our top ten stacked up. Thanks people. As always it appears to be a Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian Canada-America show, day after day with these two ‘power brands’ dominating news here in the US. Our top ten are:

1. Your favorite magazine cover of the day – Britney Spears & Sons cover Elle Magazine

2. Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez

3. Prince and Kim Kardashian groove to guitar at Madison Square Garden

4. Small biz online marketing school. Social media can get your biz noticed

5. Super Bowl divas sweetness – Fergie defends Christina Arguilera

6. 16 best Hollywood nose jobs – the price of fame’s scalpel

7. Hawaii Romance Pics – Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green

8. A different view of media – A Kiwi News Quiz – 2.7.11

9. Olivia Wilde

10. Google‘s Egypt democracy show – introducing Wale Ghonim‘s big pay rise

J PAUL GETTY III DEATH NEWS via THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: “LONDON — Great wealth became J. Paul Getty III’s great curse.

At age 16, he was held for ransom for five months by captors who cut off his ear when his oil-rich grandfather balked at paying.

After his 1973 release, he became addicted to drugs and alcohol, diving deeper into a hippie counterculture that seemed the opposite of his family’s capitalistic roots. He was only in his 20s when he suffered a devastating stroke that left him severely impaired and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He died Saturday at age 54.  Read the rest of this entry »

 

FACEBOOK BLOG SHARES OF NEWS FROM HOLLYWOOD – 2.8.11

What do President Obama, Elvis, Justin Bieber, pubescent teen girls hormones and Donald Trump have in common with a cartoonized hairstyle? Nothing actually, except a single magazine cover and one magazine editors thoughts when it comes to cartoonizing a bunch of trending names. All names mentioned are actors of American entertainment or history’s pop cultural pages.

EXTERIOR/ HOLLYWOOD CAFE/ DAY – The actors act out a script at Starbucks in West Hollywood. He’s intense, she plays the misunderstood lover. Every now and again while delivering their lines, they gesture dramatically with their hands while looking around. You never know, if acting out in public, you just might get discovered. You never know whose having coffee. Directors and casting agents need their coffee too. For belief in their dream, they’re cute.

Alrighty then, Facebook shares you’ve selected from Horiwood.Com to share as social media give a snapshot of as looking kinda like this list. Here’s ten in this moment we’re sharing as culture from Hollywood.

1. What Egypt means - Political leaders making billions while in office

2. Country hotties know how to stay in shape

3. Hollywood’s Top 40 Box Office earning stars of cinema 2011

4. For Ezra‘s generation – Key @ Site Ramses II with Isaiah‘s poetic words

5. Social Media, Hollywood News & You – 1.15.11

6. Maori musical expression in music via Te Piranga – live theater

7. Model billionaire citizen – Christopher Chandler

8. The sweetness of Superbowl DivasFergie defends Christina Arguilera

9. Celebrity news wrap up via The Hollywood Hood – a day in Feb 2011

10. Yes. I really really am a Facebook friend of Alison Stewart

True Fact – In New Zealand, ‘I grew up’ reading my friends copies of Mad Magazine. This from MAD’s Editor-in-chief: on a Justin Bieber-Google choice of popularity (Zeitgeist) magazine cover. Subtext being, just do what Google tells you is popular. If you cover who Google recommends, then as a magazine editor the chances are you’ll make money – hence this magazine cover above.

The ed’s comments are: “That was probably the highlight of his career and being on the cover of MAD is the lowlight. We like to do what we call Zeitgeist covers. When we found that his movie was debuting just about the same time we would be coming with the issue, we knew he’d be all over the place. He’ll hate it and buy every copy, and it will be a sellout. Or, conversely, Bieber won’t even notice and we’ll probably sell three copies of the issue. Every time we put one of these young teen stars on the covers — this goes back to New Kids on the Block — we do get a ton of mail from prepubescent girls. The weird thing is I happened to be looking through old issues and we did a piece on Elvis, too. So that must be hardwired into the DNA of prepubescent girls. When somebody attacks, they do the same. The magazine has changed quite a bit. We take ads, which was a trade-off for the color. Certainly the humor has been ramped up as society has been ramped up. MAD just reflects the signs of the times. It’s a great time because there’re so many whack jobs for us to go after. The lunatic fringe is alive and well from the right to the left. There’s never a shortage of material.”

To make a difference to one in six teens in the world, who don’t yet have access to clean drinking water, let alone a Justin Bieber/ Dianne Warren penned song hit, go here to Charity Water to . We Are The World. Let’s do it.

[Justin Bieber is depicted here with the lovely Selena Gomez courtesy of Celebuzz]. Some bloggers and media outlets who do not live in Hollywood like I do, but who cover Hollywood story lines too and political story lines as well are: USA TodayVanity FairWall Street JournalWashington IndependentWashington TimesWashington Post; ;  Read the rest of this entry »

 

THERESA DOES CROSSWORD YOGA, MAORI JAZZ POETRY IN NEW ORLEANS, FORMOSA HISTORY, DR. MATT TELLS ME IAN AND JAMIE ARE IN TOWN FROM CHINA – AND SIR ELTON JOHN AND BILLY JOEL ARE OVER THE CELEBRITY REHAB HOLLYWOOD TREND ALREADY TOO

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? 

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