I Can't Stop Crying

Tears of joy this morning. I don't know why I'm so overcome with emotion; it's just one of those things. This song, although written as the 2010 Olympic theme song, the lyrics make me think of all things happy and sad around the world. The war in Afghanistan, the troops in Iraq, the orphans in Haiti, the devastation in New Orleans (still) from Katrina, the poor, the lonely, peace.....but then I drop more tears for exhilarating things like my 3 Granddaughters, my parents, my family, my children - my luck and blessings. For sport and the world that can come together for 2 weeks in friendship. (why can't it be all the time?) I cry too for my blogging side of life. I love it so. This song just gets to me. I love my Canada. I love it so. I believe. I believe. Please let me know how this song makes you feel. Do you get emotional? LPxo

Haiti Food Lines: The Feminine Kind

If you look at the lines waiting for food in Haiti today, you will notice a big difference. The chaos has disappeared, the violence, the shoving, the bullies, the starving aggression, the angry; testosterone-filled hunters and gatherers have been replaced with the calm, the nurturing, the lovely. Women. Imagine that.

I Am Remembering

11 . 11. 11

Remember. One day every year, we pay special homage to those who died in service to their country. We remember these brave men and women for their courage and their devotion to ideals. We think of those who are in the military today, all around the world. Those much braver than us. We wear poppies, attend ceremonies, and visit memorials. We stand in front of our TV's and computer screens in silence. A tear may fall down our cheek. For one brief moment of our life, we remember why we must work for peace every day of the year. Don't ever forget them. Peace out.

Highway of Heroes Poppy Pin

Trademarking a poppy? Artists worldwide beware: The Royal Canadian Legion may be coming after you with a lawsuit as they believe they 'own' the rights to the poppy image. Otherwise a lovely 'Highway of Heroes' pin would still be for sale to raise money for military families. This is absolute nonsense. Let's all boycott the 'poppy drive' (the little soft, velvety red poppies we stick in our jackets) by the Legion this month until they allow the 'highway of heroes pin' to be sold again!!! - just to show them that we can all share the poppy image to remember, express and raise funds for this worthy cause. Each November, Poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population. Since 1921, the Poppy has stood as a symbol of Remembrance, our visual pledge to never forget all those Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations. The Poppy also stands internationally as a “symbol of collective reminiscence”, as other countries have also adopted its image to honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Peace = sharing. Sharing the poppy (for goodness sake) to raise money for people in need shouldn't be a criminal act. I can't stand legal bullies. (who make decisions based on greed, ego and page 41 of the Poppy Manual.)

NOTE: To be clear. I am talking about a lapel pin of the 'highway of heroes sign with poppy on it' that the local credit union was selling to raise money for military families. They are no longer allowed to sell them. (trademark infringement) I think this is so wrong. If people want to design poppy items to sell to make money for military families, they should be able to.

Berserk. Now There's A Word

Must have been the mushrooms. (see bottom) So where does Fort Hood leave all of us? Are we going to become increasingly racist against Muslims? Are we going to become paranoid? Imagine what it's like to be a Muslim in the military today! Did you know that U.S. army recruiters get a bigger commission for recruiting a Muslim? (can this be true?) What is going on? Backlash. That's the reality. Berserk. Now there's a word. (and no other word fits the shooter's actions yesterday) What is your perception?

BERSERK (SWEDEN) A.K.A. Major Nidal Malik Hasan or Dr. What A Waste

–adjective
1.
violently or destructively frenzied; wild; crazed; deranged: He suddenly went berserk.
–noun
2.
(sometimes initial capital letter) Scandinavian Legend. Also, berserker. An ancient Norse warrior who fought with frenzied rage in battle, possibly induced by eating hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Huntsville Summit Centre

This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Huntsville, Ontario; the home of the G8/G20 2010 Summit. These are some photos I shot of the floorplans posted in the front lobby. The centre is going to be gorgeous with a Canadiana look. Stone, timbers, granite with a Native influence. The Government of Canada will invest $50 million towards a series of initiatives for the Huntsville area. The G8 Centre is expected to cost approximately $20 million. The Government of Canada is pleased to provide $16.7 million towards the centre, as part of its contribution to the region for its part in hosting the meeting. I was thrilled to be able to tour the construction site, knowing that so many world Leaders will be there next June. Wouldn't it be great to be part of the media for this event? The blogging group. Yes, that would be cool.

The Summit will cost at least $50 million to put on.
The Summit Fund is paying $5 million to repave North Bay's Airport.
North Bay has an International Airport.
North Bay has a 10,000 ft runway.
Air Force One can land in North Bay.
A Minumum of 5000 journalists will attend.
Protesters will number in the 1000's
Police, Military and security personel, 15000 plus.
Police and Security will start arriving weeks or months ahead.
The most peacefull G8 Summit was the last one, in Japan 2008.

President Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO — In a stunning surprise, the Nobel Committee announced Friday (4 minutes ago) that it had awarded its annual peace prize to President Obama “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” less than nine months after he took office. “He has created a new international climate,” the committee said in its announcement. Mr. Jagland, a former Prime Minister of Norway, said that Mr. Obama had already contributed enough to world diplomacy and understanding to deserve the prize. As to whether the prize was given too early in Mr. Obama’s presidency, he said: “We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do.” People, we need to 'show the love' again instead of slipping down that negative slippery slope the media are trying to construct. You say, we can't change that slippery slope. I say (and he says) 'Yes We Can'.

G8 G20 Huntsville, Ontario, Canada

Note: I'm not just here to entertain y'all, I'm here to educate. (wink)

The difference between G8 and G20

G8 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

The G8 Summit: Starting with six countries, the heads of state have met once a year since 1975. Subjects of the yearly event, which “eight world leaders get together in informal setting to talk about issues of day,” according to Parry Sound-Muskoka member of Parliament Tony Clement, range from international security, climate change, international trade and more.

G20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and the European Union.

The G20 Summit: The first informal meeting of the G20 took place in 1999 along with finance ministers and world banking representatives to discuss issues with the global economy. The G20 gained even greater significance in late 2008 following the financial crisis. In November 2008, the United States hosted the first-ever G20 Summit followed by one in London, England in April and the most recent in Pittsburgh last week.

Stay Tuned here or here!

Excellent Fall photos of G8/G20 Venue here.

Jordan Fierce

The look of a powerful, beautiful woman. But don't let that femininity fool you. She has a face holding strong with steel-edged determination. She doesn't need to be this busy. She could stay in the palace and relax and soak and graze. A mother; a wife; a boss; an advocate; a humanitarian; a queen. She has a Kingdom and a crown. She is Jordan Fierce.

(You must click on this image to see into the eyes of a woman who knows what she wants)

Born Into Brothels House Party Oct. 2nd

On Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, the Kids with Cameras Foundation will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 140th birthday and the United Nations' declared International Day of Non-Violence with a historic worldwide screening event of the Academy Award-winning film Born into Brothels. We are asking our fans and supporters to help make a difference in the lives of more children in Calcutta like those featured in the film - just by having a house party. By hosting a movie night in your house, community center, school, house of worship or other local venue, you will join our supporters on four continents already registered to host a "House Party for Hope." All proceeds raised on October 2, 2009 will help us to build the film's legacy project called "Hope House" - a home that will provide mentorship, counseling, and a private day school education for 100 daughters of prostitutes living in Sonagachi - the largest red light district in Calcutta. Hope House will be the source of necessary support and opportunity to provide a different future for these vulnerable young girls who have been or will be another statistic of human trafficking.

Here's how to host a movie night:

1. Log on to http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/home/

2. Sign up on our home page to be a host of a "House Party for Hope" as part of our worldwide screening event of Born into Brothels on October 2, 2009.

3. Donate $20 to KWC to receive a copy of the film and our special companion DVD to introduce your guests to the plans and vision for Hope House.

4. Using our online event management system, invite your friends to your party and encourage them to donate to Hope House either when they register or at your event. KWC has suggested a guideline of $30 per person, $50 per couple, or $20 for students but your guests are welcome to contribute any amount of their choosing.

5. If you can't host a party, check back on the KWC website to find a party in your area to attend. If there is not one nearby, consider making a donation to Kids with Cameras or buying one of the prints, books, or copies of the Born Into Brothels DVD available here.

Born into Brothels by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2005. A tribute to the resiliency of childhood and the restorative power of art, Born into Brothelsportrays several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's largest red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Zana Briski, a New York-based photographer, gives each of the children a camera and teaches them to look at the world with new eyes. As Ross Kauffman, said

"It was a dream of ours as we made the film to have a place for these children to learn and grow. The dream is close to becoming a reality. There is no better way for anyone that watches the film and falls in love with these kids, just as we did, to make a difference in their future."

Here's the Born into Brothels trailer. Now you have a chance to make a difference in their future as well, just by hosting a little hope.

2 Minutes of Silence

And a lifetime of never, ever forgeting that morning or the people who we lost. I never cried this much.

Validation

I don't know what to say to 'get' you to watch this whole short film. (sigh) It is only 16:23 minutes long. I truly think it will make your day. (weekend) It really made me think. I saw myself in this film - I know you will see yourself too. I hope you 'get' to watch it. Happy Weekend. Have I told you lately that you're an incredible person? You are.

Little Altars Everywhere

Rebecca Wells is an American playwright and author. She is best known for her Ya-Ya series of novels, which includes Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, Ya-Yas in Bloom, and The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder. Her writing so far resides in the heart of Louisiana. While many fans assume her work is autobiographical, Wells says, "My work is a result of my imagination dancing a kind of psycho-spiritual tango with my own history, and the final harvest is fiction, not memoir." Her first novel, Little Altars Everywhere, won the Western States Book Award, became an underground bestseller, supported by independent bookstores nation-wide before becoming a New York Times bestseller.

In honour of Rebecca and my great blogging friend Kitty, I'm going to have 'Altar Week' here on Liberty Post! (Kitty's blogs here, here and here) Kitty has an altar in her home. Kitty says: "It is an ever changing array that moves around the house, but usually stays in the guest room where I do yoga. Essential elements include: an image of Buddha, seasonal flowers, candles, a little dish of water, and photos of my family members. Right now, its surface area is the top of the bookcase where I keep my Dharma books and my great grandmothers' Bibles. Today, as I mentioned, I am adding a little picture of the President (because of this), probably beside the smiling face of the Dalai Lama." Do you have an altar? Tell me more....(buy Little Altars Everywhere at my very own Amazon store - safe, secure and delightful...no crowds...no rude salesclerks..wink.)

Send me your personal/creative altar or sacred space photos! I'll feature you.

Please, Not Him

A new book, "In The President's Secret Service", says Obama receives as many as 30 death threats a day, 400 per cent more than those made against his predecessor, George W. Bush. Please. Whoever you are. Wherever you are. Please, not him. Please do not take him from us. (Keep him safe)

Portrait of An American Dynasty

To learn more about The Kennedy's and see their Family Tree, click here.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." - Matthew 25 (Teddy's favorite scripture - a life of service, a decision to serve, a need to serve.)



The coffin of Sen. Edward Kennedy sits on the edge of a hearse before being carried in to the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for the funeral the senator August 29, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy, the last brother of a pre-eminent American political family, died this week of cancer after a storied career in politics.

Funeral Program for Senator Ted Kennedy

60 Years of Kennedys. Gone.

President Barack Obama will miss Ted. It will be the first time in 60 years that the U.S. government does not have a 'Kennedy'. It's an odd loss for the world too. Odd in that, we need more 'Kennedy' type politicians. It's as though the torch finally smoldered out. (Did you know that Ted supported abortion despite his Catholic religion?)

The Sexiest President Today

Teary. Jubilant. Euna Lee (bottom) bows as she disembarks the plane that brought American journalists Laura Ling (top) and Lee back from North Korea in Burbank, California August 5, 2009. Ling, 32, and Lee, 36, American journalists freed by North Korea after months of detention, returned to the United States on Wednesday accompanied by former President Bill Clinton (the sexiest President today), who secured their release in a meeting with the reclusive state's leader Kim Jong-il. "We were taken to a location, and when we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton." Gasp. Any dry eyes?

Haunting Chanting Screaming

I have just listened to a few troubling things on the television. I keep my TV on in my studio. It keeps me company and it keeps me entertained and informed. (it also gives me post ideas):

1. Reportedly, the Iranian government is sending thugs to the hospitals, forcing the Doctor's to write fake death certificates and the injured are being kidnapped and taken away to be tortured/killed. The injured family members believe they actually died!

2. Neda's body was held by the Iranian government until her family agreed to have a 'family-only' private burial. I am not against the family's wishes; I am against the Iranian government taken away their 'choice'. Thousands of citizens wanted to attend, but now they do not have that opportunity.

3. When will the International Community really slam their foot down on this human rights issue?

The footage last night on CNN of the screaming in the night - reminded me of the movie The Ten Commandments - when the King said all first born boys would be killed. Haunting.

Humans only want 3 things: Peace, Freedom and Prosperity(even at the most basic level)

Image: alice in wonderland via AT

Neda

One sweet girl. Who cares about her political feelings. She was gunned down. What shall we do? What shall we do? Iran: What the hell are you doing to your people while we discuss wall colour and art exhibits and etsy shops and....various opinions and....???

Image source