A quote via Tony Kokshoorn, Mayor of Greymouth, where 29 New Zealand, South African, Scottish and one American born miner lost their lives in coal mine blasts that devastated a nation with this coal mining tragedy. The quotes are:
“It can only be described as humbling. There have been some special messages accompanying the donations, which have been made available for the families’ viewing,” Mr Kokshoorn said.
Tony was referring to the $3.5 million donations that have been given via businesses and personal donations to The Pike River Relief Fund for: “the trust that would give financial support to those who suffer financial hardship as a direct result of the tragedy, and the nature of this support would become more apparent as time progresses.”
Ironically, The National Bank (an Australian owned bank that’s the largest banking system in New Zealand, that also services parts of India) is not manning the trust. Instead Westpac Bank is, a bank that is also Australian owned. In fact all of New Zealand’s banking services, bar Kiwibank Ltd are Australian owned–Australian banks charging interest and bank services fees on all aspects of New Zealander’s productivity. It’s strange thinking we have Australian wasps (banks) mining a portion of most Kiwi’s labor and honey. That’s a daily form of very heavy Australian tax being imposed on Kiwis–with very little questioning into that fact. Yet in New Zealand, we do have this system in place. Confidence in one’s own money management is needed perhaps? Or do we just not care? :)
I like Julia Gillard, Australia’s new Prime Minister elect. She’s quite a doll, stemming from good Welsh coal mining people–but New Zealand is not Australia’s paradise green PR Shop. Aotearoa-New Zealand has much deeper roots than this. Yet the appearance of a few things in New Zealand, belies this fact. This trust management being but one example of what I mean, where power (in the form of relief) seems to be directed to flow from.
Perhaps Kiwibank should be managing this fund though–that seems the right Kiwi thing to do for Kiwi families in Kiwi community. Now there’s a new thought. Especially after all of that “New Zealand is Independent” entertainment news that was heard around the world recently. Just saying!
Good stuff though. Compassion in grief-time is the way forward, not only for Greymouth and these families but The World at this time. Love this story.
Irish Central also pays tribute to the miners’ families with news coverage of U2′s live tribute in concert to the lost miners, while performing in Auckland City, over the weekend. Go here to read some Irish News if you like.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.28.10~
Tags: Awesome Aussies, Banking Systems Money Flow, Compassion, Economic Growth Opportunities, Economy, Greymouth, Grief, Heavy Tax, Julia Gillard, Kool Kiwis, Leadership, Live Music Artists, New Zealand, Politics, U2
Hosea Gear and team mates celebrated the New Zealand All Blacks rugby football teams win over Wales in a 37-25 win. See pics below of Hosea’s team mates as these lads were in top football gear. Bono & U2 wrap poignant concerts in Auckland City, New Zealand. Images New Zealand Herald.
Hollywood entertainment and celebrity news you loved and voted worldwide today in our top ten are as follows:
1. Sam Bellingham, Beyonce, Maori Moms & U2 in Auckland City
2. Pray – Justin Bieber Music Video Premiere
3. Jay-Z‘s tribute to lost Greymouth Miners
4. Kim Kardashian is the USA’s no. 1 reality tv star
5. Poor Kanye West, booed at Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
6. Pic: Ryan Seacrest & Julianne Hough
7. Zahara Jolie-Pitt
8. Ink – A Union Jack tattoo by Tom Hardy & P-Nut
9. Tatau – Dwayne Johnson is The Rock of Hollywood
10. Model – Yasmin Bidois
[Image All Blacks rugby football player Dan Carter kicks a penalty against Wales, while buddy Richie McCaw makes a charge forward. Getty Images]
[NZ All Black John Afoa (L) dives past Wales’ George North to score a try (like a touch down). Image Reuters.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.27.10~
Tags: Auckland - The Super City, Auckland City, Bono, Commonwealth, Dan Carter, Entertainment News, George North, Greymouth, Hollywood Entertainment News, Horiwood Top 10, Hosea Gear, Ireland, John Afoa, Music Events, Music Industry News, New Zealand, New Zealand All Black, New Zealand All Blacks, Richie McCaw, Rock, Rock Bands, Rock Stars, Rugby, Rugby World Cup, Sports, Sports Horiwood, Star System - The Art of Auckland The Supercity Celebrity, The Edge, U2, UK, Wales, World News
[Image caption - Fan Sam Bellingham was lucky enough to get a photo with Beyonce as she arrived at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand].
My Maori mum, Tui of Helensville is too cute. Right on midnight (Los Angeles Time) she called me to say that she had gone with her grandchildren to see Bono (she meant U2) perform in Auckland The Supercity.
She also said that Beyonce was spotted going for lunch the next day at The Soul Cafe in Auckland City. “She’s beautiful dear,” were mom’s words.
Maori moms are so much fun. Mine is in her 70′s and can still rock it out to a humanitarian’s rock concert with her grandkids. Namely, her blackest grandchild Bradley James. Love her!
On the phone we talked about what she feels the world needs today. For once I listened. She spoke of people needing a true sense of manaaki (or hospitality from one’s spirit) that this would warm and brighten the world and make it a better place.
She was deep as well as funny as Maori and all Kiwi moms usually are. I felt her manaakitanga over the phone of a woman who has birthed her children in New Zealand, in Tonga in Fiji and travelled to India, China, Israel, America, Australia, the Phillipines as the global people-loving citizen that mom is. From New Zealand, her home–mom’s love of her big-hearted nation in the world beamed bright across New Zealand’s South Pacific Waters to my Maori-Kiwi heart here in California.
Thanks for the fun phone call mom.
And – go Sam Bellingham in New Zealand! You rock. Los Angeles sees your star Kiwi smile too. xox
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.27.10~
Tags: America, Auckland - The Super City, Auckland City, Awesome Aussies, Beyonce Knowles, Bradley James, California, China, Community, Compassion, Cross-cultural Narratives, Family Vs Fame, Helensville, Hori = Maori, Hot Chocloate: African American News on Horiwood.Com, Houston, Humanitarian Angels on Horiwood.Com, India, Ireland, Israel, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Leadership, Manaaki, Maori, New Zealand, North Auckland, Northland, Philippines, Rock, Rock Bands, Rock Stars, Sam Bellingham, Smile Club, Star System - The Art of Auckland The Supercity Celebrity, Texas, Tui of Helensville, U2, Whangarei City, Women
A burden shared is a burden halved–the bronaaki of friends
The Herald Sun Australia reports that a fleet of white buses have taken family and friends up to The Pike River Coal Ltd managed mine, in Greymouth New Zealand where 29 trapped miners lost their lives. When I read this story it makes me cry, so go here to read this heartbreaking story if you want to.
In New Zealand show biz news, rapper Jay-Z paid tribute to Greymouth’s lost miners while performing in concert for Live Nation as the opening act for fellow artists and super rockers U2 in this green paradise haven nation.
KY Post report Jay-Z saying: “They will always be in our hearts and they will always be forever young,” before dedicating track Forever Young to the lost men.
In Los Angeles, “Young” is the name of Jay-Z’s wife’s publicist actually (for reals) as well as Jay-Z’s protege artist Rihanna‘s publicist too.
In that light, this is a touching tribute from Jay-Z in a show biz Hollywod way as well if you know the nuances of this song choice in L.A. To read more about the lost miner’s Jay-Z tributed, go here to these news stories leads featured on the New Zealand Herald’s website:
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Latest updates: Pike River tragedy
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Pike River: Heartbreak in a beautiful setting
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Pike River: Mayor slams ‘gutless’ messages
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Pike mine: River of tears
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All Blacks: The Magician
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Pike River: How you can help
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Pike River: Grieving father’s plea
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Latest updates: Pike River tragedy
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Pike River: Third robot reveals violent blast
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Pike River: A nation in sorrow opens its heart
Cheers brotha Jay-Z! U2 also scrolled the 29 miners names onto their 360 degrees Tour’s stage screens, as pictured above. How poignant.
Also special thanks to all of these news media who have covered the story too offering hope forward for all of these miners families with a burden shared. Peace yall!
. BBC News. The New York Times. AOL News. NPR.MSNBC. CBC News. The Age, Australia. WHTC News. Hurri Yet Daily News. Mining Weekly. Japan Today. International Business Times. Perth Now. W Ten. The Daily Beast. Salon.Com. Chron.Com. China Daily. Denver Post. Emirates 247. Reuters India. AJC. Kivi TV. Telegraph India. Boston Metro US. Wral.Com. Salt Lake City Desert News. Times of India. Swiss Info Channel. The Pittsburgh Channel. Xfinity.Australia Network News. Press TV Ir. CBS News. Xinhua. Metro UK. . Au News.Com. Foreign Peace Fm Online. TVNZ. ABC Australia. All Voices. New Zealand Herald. SMH Australia. One News Page UK. Day Life. The Globe & Mail Canada. The U.K Independent. Mail & Guardian South Africa. News Discovery.Com. T N T Magazine. Dawn.Com. ABS-CBN News. CNN News Blogs. WVNS TV Va. Channel 4 News UK. Euro News. Sky News. 3 News. Fox News. The Guardian UK. YNet News Israel. Newser. Reuters. Business Week. Thomson Reuters Alertnet. Aol News. Courier Press UK. OfWNewsOnWeb. ABC News. YouTube.Bangkok Post. Palm Beach Post. The First Post.Co.UK. Sign On San Diego. My Fox New York. RTT News.Breaking News Ie.Earth Times. BBC for Scotland. Talk Talk UK. Daily Record UK. Western Australia Today. The Sun UK. . Human Events.Southern End Standard UK. Aol News. Nucleus. Mirror UK. SBS Australia. 3 FM. This is London. Wikio UK. Blog runner. icScotland. Montreal Gazette. Winnepeg Free Press. To The Center. Reuters Africa.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.27.10~
Tags: Jay-Z, New Zealand, U2, Ireland, Scotland, America, South Africa, Auckland City, Homage, Auckland - The Super City, Trapped Miners
“The moon has turned red over One Tree Hill.He runs like a river to the sea”–U2
BBC reports: “A third explosion has hit a New Zealand coal mine almost exactly a week after an initial blast trapped 29 miners.
Hopes of finding any survivors were dashed by a second huge explosion at the Pike River mine on Wednesday.
No-one was injured in the latest blast at the mine, which is filled with volatile gases.
Prime Minister John Key has warned it may take months to recover the men’s bodies, and pledged an investigation, saying the nation “needs answers”.
The latest blast happened at 1539 local time – almost exactly one week since the initial blast that caught the men – 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African.
The third blast was less powerful than the earlier two, and no-one was near the mine entrance when it happened, said Pike River Coal chairman John Dow.”
Be the answer.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.26.10~
Tags: Ireland, Live Music Artists, Miner's Safety, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, U2
My friend Dale Karauria who manages the most amazing election campaigns for politicians EVER in New Zealand’s capitol city of Wellington, when really she should be standing as a politician of New Zealand herself, because everything about Dale rocks as a leader, Facebooked me yesterday.
Dale’s Facebook coms centered on the Greymouth miners families, the tragedy, the recovery of these lads bodies and the sadness New Zealand and the world feels at this time. Always the optimist friend, Dale focused on the amazing tributes that have been flooding like hope in a dark hour for the West Coast of New Zealand. Today I woke up, conscious of Dale’s words, the love pouring into New Zealand and these miners families, hence this post.
On Saturday we had the New Zealand All Blacks rugby football team and the Welsh rugby football team pay tribute to the families of the 29 trapped miners in New Zealand, all presumed to be dead.
Now, U2 has paid tribute to the mining town of Greymouth, in a touching concert dedication of the lost men’s lives. Here’s Bridget DeLauney with that report: “A song dedicated to U2′s Kiwi roadie 25 years ago was transformed in a haunting memorial to the Pike River 29 last night, when the Irish rock band played at Auckland’s packed Mt Smart Stadium. Roadie Greg Carroll formed a strong bond with U2 and lead singer Bono when the band toured New Zealand in 1985.
His death in a motorcycle accident in Ireland devastated the band, which brought his body back to New Zealand for his tangi. Last night, Bono told fans he knew New Zealand was struggling to cope with the Pike River coal mine tragedy, the West Coast’s darkest hour.
“In Ireland we sing,” he said launching into I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and One Tree Hill, dedicating the crowd rousers to the 29 lost at Pike River.
What a beautiful moment. One Tree Hill is the place of love, where many romantic hearts have been lit alight in passion. It’s where my Waikato dad of Te Puke (The Hill) proposed marriage to my Maori mom of Helensville many moon beams ago. From this Hill, the world’s super rockers send a message of hope, piercing the darkness of grief in New Zealand. Here’s the lads version of the song, from their concert here in California at the Pasadena Rose Bowl–in celebration of 29 good men, their lives, and the bright memories as brothers, who were muched love. Peace.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.25.10~
Tags: Greymouth, U2
“After the flood, all the colors came out”–U2
Pictures: Sunlight through palms and trees, my street and Santa Monica Blvd and Fairfax, West Hollywood California, today.
Video: U2 playing their much loved 360 degrees concert at The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California.
Message: People would much rather trust a proven rock star then a politician today. They’re more fun – and you get from them, what they promised when you bought into what they said they were offering. Unfortunately the same thing can’t be said of some nations politicians today. Thank goodness for both good politicians and fine rock stars. There’s hope rising in the world. :)
Hot U2 Performance Venue: New Zealand on Thursday 25th November. To see you U2 again in NZ, go here, here and here.
You’re welcome. And there are four Australia dates too for U2 performing live in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Too much rock concert happiness and fun down under. :)
This clip: Beautiful Day
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California, USA. 11.14.10~
Tags: New Zealand, California, Bono, U2, Music Industry News, America, West Hollywood, Melbourne, Auckland City, Think Green, Concerts & Tours, Until the Sun comes up on the Santa Monica Blvd, The Edge, Aotearoa - New Zealand, Auckland - The Super City, Aotearoa Television Hollywood, Rose Bowl, Music Events
Via the AFP: “SARAJEVO (AFP) – Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is expected to get a new licence to film in Bosnia after the authorities revoked the initial one over concerns about the script, a local producer said Saturday.
“I was promised by the Ministry of Culture that the licence will be issued on Monday,” Edin Sarkic told AFP, adding that he was about to restart preparations for the shooting.
“I will then have twenty days to set up a score of locations and I think it is doable,” he added.
Jolie has already begun the shooting in Hungary of her first movie as a director: a love story between a Serb man and Muslim girl at the beginning of Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war. The serb man allegedly raped the Muslim girl, and then she falls in love with him. Different.
The Ministry of Culture of the Muslim-Croat Federation, one of Bosnia’s two post-war entities, on Wednesday cancelled the licence to Jolie for filming scenes in Sarajevo and the central town of Zenica in November.
The approval was revoked when the Women Victims of War association complained after media reports spelled out the film’s plotline.
However, both Jolie and the producer claimed it was a misunderstanding and urged the authorities to reconsider the decision to revoke the licence.
The ministry demanded to be given the screenplay before delivering a new licence.
Jolie has said that part of the reason to make the movie was to remind people of what happened during the war in Bosnia and to give attention to the survivors of the conflict that left some 100,000 people dead.”
You know, there’s other ways to ask to meet a lady for tea. In a case of art imitating life, Jolie’s directorial and creative decision making ability gets invaded by political players, to find out what she’s up to.
Staged, or, a glitch in her week, drawing good awareness to Serbia’s past? A nice press opportunity for Jolie. Always the victim of bullying, overcoming odds, the onscreen theme, of her central character’s storyline.
When you forgive your rapist, two people are freed in that moment. A powerful film. In a way, all war is ‘rape’ on people on land on resources, as one power seeks to subdue another. A good theme in this film.
Here’s U2‘s version of their song, Modena – Miss Sarajevo with the late Pavaroti. He was pure art.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.17.10~
Tags: Angelina Jolie, Art, Bosnia, Live Music Artists, Opera, Pavarotti, U2
Dear LA Times Readers, with Love:
Here’s the definition of contentment, the remedy of resentment, the latter being the thief of life’s fullness. Let’s live in contentment.
Dictionary Definitions provided for us by Dictionary Reference: as word medicine for our United States of Recovery.
Contentment:
the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind.
Archaic . the act of making contentedly satisfied.
“A state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be. It is opposed to envy, avarice, anxiety, ambition and repining. It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence, the greatness of divine promises and our own unworthiness of rest and peace hereafter, that contentment provides in a state of grace.”
Just a spoon full of sugar then. :)
Love that definition.
Noun Origin: mid-15c., from Fr. contentment , from contenter
For the writer/ editor who composed the compelling piece on resentment recovery yesterday for all Californians to read. Thank you. If we live in contentment and not resentment, would love win out over war? Here’s music artists Beyonce, U2 and Eric Clapton with their art of live music today as entertainment for reflection on that question.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.26.10~
Tags: America, Beyonce Knowles, Bono, Eric Clapton, Forgiveness, France, Live Music Artists, Love, Music Industry News, Recovery, Russia, Spirit, Thought For Today, U2, War
Today I’m reflecting on why an Irish rock group arose form poverty to become the world’s dominating force of rock music who according to Forbes Magazine 2010, made bank with a whopping $130 million of earnings. Not bad for an 80′s super rock group who work tirelessly for a sense of world peace via their music profiles and sonic pictures on an audio level. Principles of creativity from the 80′s need to take a front seat in the 2010′s. Big thinking creative times are a good remedy, towards economic recovery and growth still.
Although U2 told us to batton down the hatches and simultaneously ‘Put on Your Boots,’ (irony), we still love these super rockers today, because this band of brothers and fathers, still dare to songwrite new material, father their children, collaborate with other artists at world events while singing in new Presidents too. Hot. But back to songwriting and music artists being encouraged to write new songs.
Forbes says: “Live Nation ( LYV - news - people ), which recently merged with Ticketmaster to become the most dominant force in the live music business, now serves as an industry bellwether. It recently announced that ticket sales for its top 100 acts dropped 9% for the year, amid a 17% drop in the concert business at large, and it expects sales to fall further.
The real drop in music industry earnings may be yet to come. “Everybody was surprised by how well the business held up last year, despite the economy crashing around us,” says Gary Bongiovanni, the editor of Pollstar, a concert trade publication. The biggest fear of some promoters is oversaturation of the market, as the same acts tour year after year without a new album to support. That may soon lead to a decline in both ticket sales and ticket prices. “In today’s world artists have to tour to make money because they can’t just sit at home and collect their royalties and expect to make their mortgage payments,” Bongiovanni says.
Courage to write original songs. Let’s go rocking songwriters! And on the note of a band of fathers who songwrite and rock it out today. Let’s consider the band Rossmore as a potential opening act for U2 here in Hollywood at the Rose Bowl in the future, because Rossmore rock their music out too. Anything is possible when you possess the creativity and courage to write and perform good music. Let’s go rock stars!
[Live images of U2 performing on their 360 (degrees) tour, photographed by EPA/TONINO DI MARCO, courtesy of Monsters & Critics]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.7.2010~
Tags: Bono, Ireland, Leadership, Live Music Artists, Music Industry News, Rock, Rock Bands, Rossmore, Songwriters, U2, World Peace, Writers
U2 is signed to exclusively provide music for ESPN‘s Soccer World Cup. What a coup. Go here to .
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 6.10.2010~
Tags: Soccer, South Africa, U2
Here’s a beautiful performance by U2 at Slane Castle of their song, Where the Streets Have No Name.
Heavenly, like the Hawaiian Frangipane flower, on St Paddy’s Day for ya– sent from Hollywood, via your resident Maori.
St Patrick’s Day is a universally loved celebration time the world over. A real testament to the Irish people, really! :) Years later, we love U2 even more than we first did.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.17.2010~
Tags: U2
These are the top 50 big winners of touring North America with entertainment in 2009. Bono and co. of Ireland are so rich!
Heavy metal bands didn’t do too badly either!
Pollstar Top 50 Tours of North America:
Rank Total Gross* Artist
1 123.0 U2
2 94.5 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
3 88.0 Elton John / Billy Joel
4 82.5 Britney Spears
5 77.9 AC/DC
6 71.1 Kenny Chesney
7 69.8 Jonas Brothers
8 56.9 Dave Matthews Band
9 54.5 Fleetwood Mac
10 53.4 Metallica Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bono, Music Industry News, U2
It’s official, at the European Music Awards in Berlin, if you perform for the Obama’s Inauguration, you will receive top entertainment honors throughout Europe too.
At the European Music Awards in Berlin, the world’s pop royalty were officially donged for services to the Western World as ambassadors of entertainment (and politics).
Top honors went to: U2 for Best Live Act and their 360 degrees concert tour experience. Beyonce of course was the show’s big winner. Bee won for Best Female, Best Music Video (Single Ladies, Put a Ring On It).
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Beyonce Knowles, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Music Industry News, ObamaDrama, U2
The Hollywood Reporters writes that U2′s performance at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, Sunday was the largest live streamed concert audience they have mustered watching a concert. 10 million people worldwide watched the concert.
There’s money in concerts, live music and broadcasting live concerts to the world via the internet. Congrats US, Los Angeles & YouTube on that fine effort.
Tags: Sales & Distribution, U2
Victoria Beckham does her famous trout pout pose for the people at home, for Harper’s Bazaar UK‘s Christmas issue. Hasn’t Posh Spice come a long way!
Tags: U2, Victoria Beckham
Twenty years ago, U2 played live as the Berlin Wall fell. The super rockers plan on performing a to celebrate this historic moment, on November 5th in front of the Brandenberg Gate during the MTV Music Awards.
What a significant moment for U2, freedom and the world!
Nice one fellahs! To see U2′s last performance in Berlin July 20th 2009, go here.
Tags: Music Industry News, U2
… were not to be outdone by the British singer and music producer’s cute freckles. Amy Winehouse is now looking more like Beyonce than ever. Same surgeon perhaps? The wonders of medical science.
~Horiwood–10.26.09
Tags: Amy Winehouse, U2
