My niece has  helped make a film,I am so proud! She graduated from Brooks,is working as a prop person and doing side work.You do not have to vote for her~it is .50 cents after all~ but this is all the family I have left..so I just got to brag.Please go check it out~Salty language Warning!!

Hi everybody.
A short film that I produced (among other things), 'Structure H Telepathic' has been selected as a finalist for the short film competition at www.ourstage.com.  The winner will be decided in the next two days. The way the website decides who wins is by how many people text-in cell phone votes for each film.  So we are trying to muster up as many people as possible to help get ours on top.  Sebastian Vignieri (the marvelous writer/director) and I, are offering good Karma in return.  So if you could text in a vote for us that would be great!  Also if you could pass this email around to your friends, colleagues, acquaintances, etc. your good Karma will increase exponentially!

To text in a vote - -  text:  shrt03  to the number 78243(STAGE)

here is the weblink to view the short

http://www.ourstage.com/vid...

Thank you so much for your help,

Peace and best regards,
GYZTWWYMOHQ-twitch

The title of this blog post is from a recent thread,who said it does not matter.But it was supposed to be a "slam" against a statement that was considered "liberal"~well according to National Institutes of Healths research,they may well want to "feel" a bit more.

I have always believed that acting selflessly is in actuality a selfish act~it feels good!The research in todays TBC(page A2,for the story) shows that the area of the brain that "lights up " for food and sex,lights up when one preforms a altruistic act,suggesting that morality is hard wired into humans.

They are learning the foundation of morality is empathy~the ability to feel what another creature is undergoing."..an important leap in the evolution of social behavior.."So it appears that empathy,or feeling is not such a low level response as some may believe.

That quote was from one of the soldiers in the iconic flag raising photograph from  Iwo Jimma ,WW 2.I watched a Bill Moyers Journal last evening~a remix of his "From D-Day to Normandy" and an update on the men from that story 15 years later.It was a touching story about these veterans,their service and it's effects.

Pondering those words,in their terrible ,beautiful meaning I was struck ,yet again, by the unfathomable debt our country owes to these men,all who serve.Those words should ,metaphorically, be burned into any who ask that another serve.

Another fellow blogger asked "what is worth dying for?" Many things came to mind, among them family,and several lofty ideals~evil, hate,wanton destruction of a people and cultures.As I listened to their stories I realized most of us would be like them.Finding ourselves,our buddies armed and facing the similarly arrayed opposing force.We would quickly dismiss any  grand ideals and opt for simple survival.For ourselves and our buddies We would wish it for the hero's~but in war there must be hero's.

So I raise my voice to those who can not hear~Thank You.To those who have known the hero's I extend my hand in fellowship.I thank them for being alive to help us all remember.

May the price of war become a distant memory ,but never those who paid it's true cost be forgotten

I am sure you have been as annoyed by them as I have.They always seem to come at the exact wrong time,at my door,invading my space.After watching  Independent Lens the other night ,right before I politely tell them "no thanks" I am going to add a "Thanks"~ here is why you may wish to do the same.

The film "Knocking" follows two separate families and their journey in and around the Witness faith. The film deals fairly with the many controversial aspects of this belief system~personal rights,blood transfusions,ostracism of ex believers and other topics.

It is in their advocating of free speech that my ignorance of this group most struck me. They have gone before SCOTUS a remarkable 60 times to fight for free expression~and won a even more remarkable 50 times.

The most notable period was between 1935 and 1938.Their firm belief in the commandment "Thou shall not kill" resulted in their interment in concentration camps in Nazi Germany.Here in the U.S. it resulted in destruction of their Halls ,riots against them,attacks on the street and most regrettably tar/feathering,stoning and castration.In 1940 they lost before SCOTUS the case against saying the pledge.After this 200 editorials across the nation,and Elanor Roosevelt,spoke on the irony of this decision.The very thing we claimed to be fighting against Germany for,we committed at home. In an unheard of three years turnaround the Justices reversed their decision,allowing the Witness's to not say the pledge~worship of an image according to their belief.

The film covers a lot more ground than this,it is worth trying to catch or buy the DVD~even a visit to http://www.pbs.org/independ... will give you pages to see and much more to discover.While I am in no danger of converting~it behooves us all to learn more about the "other".

That knock on your door is a reminder that the principles of free speech,religion and personal liberty can exist in peace.

  However you feel about another blogers video recently posted here~his intended audience is now unable to view it,worse the families and soldiers will now have a harder time connecting with each other.

The military says it's band width is being eaten up by these posts,that sensitive information might be in some posts and videos.The sites include YouTube,MySpace,Metacafe,1.film,StupidVideos,File Cab:.BlackPlanet.hi5,ifilm

,Live365InternetRadio,MTV and Pandora. If you have a personal PC you can keep posting~otherwise no go.The military is reconsidering the ban~how do you put the genie back into the box? Should you?

In my opinion a military man is smart enough not to disclose information that would harm himself or others.I can see a limit on banswith useage.This internet has enabled a connection as never before between those who serve and those left at home~I say do not sever that tie.

I watched this movie yesterday,the last few frames filled me with hope and a sense that not all believe forgiveness is folly.

A fact based thriller helmed by Phillip Noyce,the director of "Clear and Present Danger" and "Patriot Games".The films stars Derek Luke as the main character and Tim Robbins as the protagonist~ which plays the hero,who is the villain?That is shown only by which lens the viewer chooses to look through.Luke plays Patrick Chamuse a man driven into violent political action against apartheid.Robbins plays Nic Vos a terror fighting cop,who knows apartheid is a losing battle,yet continues to aid the government.This thriller is set in Johannesburg and to borrow a phrase they "blow things up real good".Primarily you follow both men as they descend into the madness of that time,one after many years finally wins free.When the tortured Patrick asks "what will your children say of you?" it  echos are as an important question now, as it was then.The beauty of Africa is a great backdrop for the tale,and 9 tracks by Bob Marley and the Wailers set you back into the times~plus they all rock!

The film neatly illustrates how easily one could be seen as a terrorist,turned into a terrorist and how one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. He is ultimately sent to Robin Island,and learns from a truly great man there.The final moments illustrate what I hope is the path the world takes.After much hardship~beyond anyone here's imagination~this man forgives the unforgivable,is ultimately selfish in a selfless act.The power he receives from that act helps unfold a future that is bright and clean.

I highly recommend a renting of this film.It is not the wrapping ,the bow,or the card that one takes away from this film~it is it's heart,the gift at it's core.I leave that for you to find. five out of five stars IMHO.

 From the amount of vitriol thrown back and forth almost daily on this forum,frankly I am surprised at the lack of violence in this community.It does not matter the source but the bile thrown at those who disagree with you is pathetic.Everybody says ,does a tasteless thing or three but the gods ears must be burning today.A dead man~who while alive I myself have professed no love for~ a man convicted of murder~ a whole religion or three~ all of these today are trotted across these blogs and treated as we are at the Roman Coliseum instead of a public space.I have heard that my cries for politeness "are not any fun", are censorship blah blah blah..To those of you who choose to behave in this manner,I known you do not want to change minds or hearts.

For some it is a release~when for years a public figure has done and said things you consider appalling,the last word can be too tempting to resist. I know your points can be made without debasing your selves and the "honoree".While letting the corpse become cold is a thing of the past,some things are best done in private..

In the current murder case and verdict ,every person with an agenda,and no guts to be identifiable at all, that has posted vile awful things~no matter how you feel  about justice being served~Five people are dead,another faces death and lives are shattered forever.Is it too much to ask that you behave as people not a mob?Post opinions not baited statements.Those of you who can not resist behaving in atrocious ways~do not be stunned when you are "censored".It is what your Mother should have done.

The "helpful" posts on a particular religion are just not helpful ,nor do they appear to be so intended.

I believe that one can adhere to any silly ,stupid,bigoted,hateful,thing they chose~just have the good sense to not do so publicly.

Why ,indeed are there not more murders,more lynchings, more senseless attacks?For what I see here, what I have read here it is a mystery.We should all be ashamed.I am sure the post that follow will be a freak show~but till civilization ceases or I do,I must call on our better natures.Please.

 Finally I think I can write about this,on this Mothers day.Forgive the disjointedness,I am of course crying ,laughing and trying to make sense~difficult.

We both got sick within a day of each other,usually he'd get a bug ,I be nurse and get it after he was well.This time was different. Normally just the feeding,preparing,cleaning of of 3 meals a day took 4 1/2 hours.He loved to savor food,just an hour to feed him alone.With the flu it was easier and harder ~a lot of fluids for us both,at first , then he started to not want anything,just to be held, have me stroke his hair, watch T.V. with him.The next day it was back to him wanting food,and I was just getting sicker.One night it was just easier to keep him with me in bed than move.My BF had gotten mad at me for something silly,so he was no help.Thank the gods for my GF,she kept us in soup and juices.

 For years he would look at me and just beam~Mom could make the world right no matter what.After the operation, the constant pain took away my superhero status.But that last two weeks was a gift to me~all he wanted was my touch,to be held,to be loved and love me in return.We both got sicker till that day,but until that hour I was the luckiest Mom that ever was..still am.For I have been loved like no other Mom can know~when people call those kids "special " it is because they truly are. They Love like no other human can . Have a great day Moms~ we are  given a wondrous journey to take with this gift ~life.

   Last night's "Journal" was a particularly enlightening one.He did a segment on Pat Robertson and Regent College.

Then I was introduced to Nick Gillespie: who should be President IMHO<but I am sure would decline any such idea.He has great hair~a presidential requirement ;)  ~ and a mind like a steel trap.He is editor of Reason magazine,if you want a"and now for something completely different" experience check out Reason at http://www.reason.com/. He is a thoughtful man, makes his points without any trace of smarmy "tude" that is so prevalent these days.

 Then Marilyn B. Young talked about a book she co~edited "Iraq and the lessons of Vietnam: or How not to learn from History".Another intelligent connect the dots reasoner.

 Listening to both of these people it struck me the biggest obstacle we face today: All of us,myself included,need to step back,wake up and really become involved in our government. The loss of my K.,has shown me just how isolated I became. How the daily struggle to stay sane,keep the wolf's from the door,keep him in prime operating condition, squeeze in some enjoyment, took out of me.That is why we are right here in this moment~we want to believe "someone" smarter than ourselves will fix our ills for us, while we struggle to make it week to week. When  "they" don't fix things we complain,but we are the government.We are the smart ones.But the hardest thing is going to be looking yourself in the eye and saying"You have been, and are, a fool".Gillespie speaks to this point:The culture War must stop and soon.The conservative who says outrageous things,the liberals who say equally inflammatory remarks are doing the work of our true enemy.Drop the ideology and start talking .

  The last segment is a sad one:the cost of this war.Money,resources,bodies. The unseen costs that will run through countless lives caused by mental health issues directly linked to war. The chilling assessment that we will be "over there" for ten years .If any of you have a child  of eight years or older~they may well be a number, a statistic, the price we pay. Peace

Sage 2007  Truly hoping you have a joyous day!

Scrolling down the cards one made me cold<-> stop. Sepia tinted feet poked from under a cloth,then faded in to white,Words written under:

"When I picked up my daughters ashes to bring home,I ate some.."

A single reply:"I understand"

 The pain permeates this world,my world,your world.That is the reply to my question,why i still am so "Polly Anna",why Love is my reaction- a rage  of love,make no mistake..So scared,so afraid,I tell no one how it really is,and deny what is inside of me.

I flail at the hate with whips of love,would crawl across shreds of glass,impale this flesh upon your swords,cut out this tongue,blind my eyes,hack away one hand,plead for you to take the other

        & nbsp;    just to understand.

This fragile construct shatters soon enough under it's own weight, why aide it?

 Once I was alive, now dying,dead, I rage on still screaming silently,look inside,look outside,look beyond yourself    LOVE

 Normally the small screen fails to inspire me,the inane commercial or the just too scanty coverage turn me off.Once in a while a program will grab me,call for my devotion.This particular program is sentenced to the hinterlands~PBS~ and given the death knell of Friday Night.So I want to advocate to those few willing to hear~very few I am sure~ about my new addiction..

That voice,the first time I heard it caressed my ear..it makes me feel safe.At once recalling vanilla ice cream, the gnarled white with blue veined hands that scooped round balls,reached for the syrup poured it over,then later tucked me in,warm summer nights,soft cool breeze on my face, watching planes land as we sat quiet in the dark.I trust that voice, from my first acquaintance "The Power of Myth" to the most recent,even though the words disquiet me,even frighten me.The current Journal is most definitely worth eschewing whatever lurks on T.V. that night.Set aside sexy,messed up Doctors too busy with neurosis to do much doctoring,the pretend dead sending messages from beyond,the "pop' "news " of Dateline and try my friend Bill at 8:00.Cable may promise you more,even deliver at times but one hour spent with this man,that voice,is well worth your attention.