To boost attendance, the Petersen Automotive Museum opens a special collection of 150 historic vehicles, stored in a “vault” below its galleries, to the public. See all the Photos.
Really fancy, old American vintage cool. Take a virtual tour @pic view.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 26.12.12~
In this country, we take care of each other. And in this season of giving, it’s inspiring to see so many people all across America taking the time to help those most in need.”
–Michelle Obama
That’s part of what makes us such a compassionate nation. And this year, I know many of you are extending that kindness to the families who are still picking up the pieces [of a devasting year].
Are you tired of the concrete jungle, the traffic and the smog of the big city? Why not go a bit country then. Denim fashion is what you need to know before you jet.
Cowboy denim style: photographed by Azim Haidaryan.
Paul Robinson of Dunedin runs Rodeo Drive Southland, New Zealand. Being a cowboy is his family’s gig.
USA, Canada and Australia are riding south to New Zealand for a rodeo. In Australia’s GQ Magazine coutback fashion style takes a cowboy twist in Australia’s multicultural cosmopolitan cities. Click on pic above to see denim, country cowboy style. Mark Sainsbury and Mercury TV original reporter of Invercargill, Megan Martin reporting.
GQ‘s Wayne Gross writes: Think Indiana Jones and Dallas, a cowboy is never complete without the perfect cowboy hat – see Akubra for one. Don’t be afraid to wear a denim shirt with denim jeans, just be sure to break up the ensemble with a classic chocolate leather belt. Don’t shy away from an expensive pair of jeans. They’ll last you longer, and certainly look the part. Boots are made for walking – and in this case complete any cowboy look. Lighter styles in shades of caramel and cream contrast well with darker denim. Hold up your denim with a good quality leather belt with an oval buckle.
If you still prefer the city or your tastes are more Brit-Brat Pack Martini Club in style. Also check out - A Fashion Retrospective – Style Tips from HRH Prince Charles. Having lived in California, cowboy culture of Cali is synonymous to tequila, margueritas and chillaxed beer with a tonne of salt and fresh lime. El Gringo Style on the Hollywood range totally… and the sweetest waitresses with chola brows and cheesy smiles, spring to mind too. Lol!
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 17.11.12~
About this episode: Sydney Morning Herald Loves Jon Stewart – The Jewish wise-cracking New Yorker whose satire and cheeky grin (along with Chris Matthews is one of two American political commentators whose hard hitting honest and open style of commentary) define the savvy political sense of U.S humor and the myth busting art of today’s top discerning journalists.
Jon Stewart is one of America’s best known faces thanks to The Daily Show. This is Bloomberg’s story of how Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz rose from his New Jersey roots through the struggles of stand-up, part-time jobs and late night gigs on New York’s comedy circuit to become the dominant American commentator of the times.
I always used to watch Stuart in the USA. He helped me understand US politics as he made it interesting, fun, funny – often including young people into his show’s format to keep the show real.
He’s a smart *ss Jewish lad basically. If you’ve lived in USA’s Jewish culture – a culture that prides itself on savvy wit like few others, Stuart is very funny.
Click on magazine cover to view video. He turns political conventions into playgrounds for parody.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 12.11.12~
“The relationship between our two countries is an enduring and close one, and I look forward to developing it further.
“With President Obama‘s re-election, there will be many opportunities to enhance the relationship, which is built on shared values, and a commitment to improve the prosperity and well-being of our people through initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“I have enjoyed working with President Obama during his first term as President and welcome the opportunity to continue our strategic partnership over the coming years.”
–John Key for Aotearoa New Zealand to The Obama family & USA.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 7.11.12~
Paul Toohey is writing from the USA on how it’s going on the US election campaign trail. Apparently it’s all about gas and the type of tank on wheels you put it in and if it is an American-made tank for gas or not.
Or the American economy is a gas tank on wheels basically.
Here’s his words:
Mitt Romney is finding out that you should never stand between an American and his American-made car.
As President Barack Obama closes out his re-election campaign in the car towns of the US, his Republican rival is under sustained attack from the media and autoworkers for falsely claiming US car jobs are headed for China.
It’s now too late for Mr Romney to untangle himself from his comments on the car industry, which he followed with a damaging new campaign ad.
Both have cost him savage media coverage across Ohio, the swing state he most needs to win when America heads to the polls tomorrow. (more…)
Photo – Grinder Shannon Falcone was thrown through the wing sail and another crew member was thrown into the bay.–Telegraph UK.
Reuters: It was only the eighth time Oracle had taken the massive catamaran – the class of yacht to be used for the Louis Vuitton challengers regatta and America’s Cup – on to water for training since it was launched in August.
The official website said the boat was still upside down, having floated under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, with its wing (mast and rigid sail) “damaged nearly beyond recognition”.
None of the crew were hurt in the capsize, but the team were having trouble getting the catamaran back to base.
Tactician Tom Slingsby said the boat had been preparing to bear away (turn away from the wind) when it capsized stern over bow (pitchpoled). (more…)
As good as sports entertainment cross-over audience share gets, this is a real coup.
[With The Queen Bee landing prime time TV's no.1 spot for the year - in US trend terms - that means the Obamas are probably highly likely - to be set for a second term of office]. A good choice.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 17.10.12~
Hekia Parata News: “I absolutely am… I’m asking you to get our names right. It starts with pronouncing them correctly.”–NZ’s Minister of Education to the teachers PPTA.
Well, cue us some Aretha tracks right now, cos that was some direct coaching on acknowledging Maori & Pasifika kids total presence in New Zealand’s education system.
“Hearing from or engaging with?” is what Lady Gardiner put to the PPTA crew when communicating how she likes to be engaged with. Simon Dallow, Miriama Kamo and Daniel Faitaua have the news.
Eva Longoria News: Eva breezed into town for a publicity star appearance. She believes Obama is the right President for the US, though she wasn’t in town to yak about that. She’s strictly on a promotional excursion. Good to see her on Kiwi TV. Watch clip with Ruth Wynn-Williams.
A Maori princess and a Tex-Mex Hollywood maiden. Fabulous, forceful and no nonsense stars of the world. Good press. Surreal magical news TV.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 3.10.12~
Hippy mosaic lifestyles of New York’s Portia Munson and Jared Handelsman were photographed for The Big Apple’s audiences by photographer Tony Cenicola.
The artsy couple live off the land and create art from what they find on their 83 acres. Learning from nature is what they’re all about. I kinda dig that. It’s almost similar to how Kiwis roll too in New Zealand respecting nature and creating from it. It’s like… get on that train man. Enjoy the world more if near the countryside.
–Tony’s photos appear in the New York Times, Wednesday September 19th daily edition.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.9.12~
So, Serena Williams can dance after a right royal tennis win at the US Open. Oh yeah!
ABC News reports via APP (yeah you know me); Serena Williams wrapped up her remarkable summer with the latest rendition of a scene that has become familiar the past few months.
—Williams jumping up and down on the tennis court with a mile-wide smile across her face. (Lol!)
—Williams picking up a big-time prize — this time, the U.S. Open trophy, which will look good somewhere near the gold medals she won at the Olympics and the silver plate she took home from Wimbledon.
Sports Video Coverage: Jenny May & Co. TVNZ
Williams dominated from the get go, before unforced errors set in. They do happen to the best champions in the world. Victoria Azarenka was every bit the no.1 ranked tennis pro taking Williams to a third set (a first in the final since 1995). (more…)
We are because our founding fathers and founding mothers read the times realistically, shared their wisdom and courage in times of hardship, ackowledged the snares and traps we had to navigate through the difficult years.
We are because such people acted as coaches who encouraged and cheered us on to be stronger people and to look up more again and just keep on going. We are strong because a cast of believers did not give up on offering optimism, that would move our dreams forward.
Bill Clinton is an American we have always liked in New Zealand for his pizazz (panache) as a President, who wasn’t always perfect, yet we liked him anyway. We associate fun years and magical humanitarian moments of greatness in the world when Bill was President of the USA. Generosity of spirit with vision, was the America he spoke of that people invested in across the board and believed in. Clinton is an incredible dream builder as an artist of the world’s architecture from the USA.
Hillary Clinton, one of 2 more stars in Mr Clinton’s talented family also exemplifies the best of what Bill’s life taught her initially over the years on the campaign trail and in office. She’s now flying solo in her role as U.S Secretary of State, an icon, all people of the world can be proud of as a strong leader.
So when Bill Clinton steps up after Michelle Obama‘s romantic endorsement of POTUS yesterday, this is what you call the endorsement of endorsements for Barack Obama‘s Presidential campaign for a renewed term in office as the 44th President of the United States.
US endorsements for a President don’t get better than the President’s wife backing the no.1 man and Bill Clinton following that up, in the video footage above.
The Best of American political endorsements in action.
Always watch.
Bill’s Headlines in the news for DNC Charlotte, North Carolina Convention are:
The best summation of Obama’s 1st term in Office: Bill Clinton’s math lesson for the DNC: Why Obama adds up – Having been a witness in the USA during these years, Obama’s leadership was strong enough to endure the hard lessons of the ‘palsy’ frenemies setting him up to squeeze more out of the USA’s majorities, a hang over of the Bush years bad habits of greed. Obama endured this, before allowing his social conscience to be heard again within. So, I like the math lesson Clinton gives of the US recalling the harsh context Obama was handed where he had to prove his strength staying in reality.
Photo caption: President Bill Clinton hugs Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama following Clinton’s speech, on day two of the Democratic National Convention, September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C. Photog: Joe Raedle, Getty Images.
So what did Mr Clinton say in full. Read on while watching video:
The 4pm and 4.30pm news reports today with Scotty Morrison and Miriama Kamo in New Zealand showcased some important voices.
Michelle Obama’s impassioned election campaign speech as FLOTUS for Barack Obama‘s November election was dynamic, real, electric with passion, painting a portrait of a family man who stays up late at night staring into the face of statistics and reports, agonizing of how to make life better for youth and the USA’s citizens who still need adequate education and health care provision as well as the 28 million Americans still needing to create employment for themselves.
I lived in the USA. I did have my let downs with how the political system as a system was geared to benefit the bankers and an extreme minority of wealthy who juiced the system and got wealthier inflicting pain on the masses with their greed. Obama got the blame for this, yet he was appointed by his predecessors to carry the can for that rigged game. So, although I do aspects of The Romneys, I still believe the Obamas are the right people for the USA at this time. Don’t hate them, hate the system that needs to change to stop the greed and to evenly distribute wealth more to majorities way in the USA. I’m hearing that ring of truth in Mrs Obama’s tone. So I like her speech a lot. She gives the wealthy something to really think about. Like, truth! The tea party and the GOP’s grandstanding antics, gave Obama such a tough time taking over the house in DC at the 2 year-mark of his Presidency, so if the GOP are mad with anyone about the US economy today, they need to take a good hard look at themselves.
Here in New Zealand, Margaret Mutu a tribal leader of Ngati Kahu and Haami Piripi of Te Aupouri speak too for the tribal affairs. And a Kiwi soldier gets acknowledge for service in Afghanistan too. Watch the three clips in Scotty and team’s report if you’d like to.
Finally, what Barack thought of Michelle going into bat for him depicted quite an emotional Barack in dailly news. For the man who is normally quite stoical in his role as America’s 44th President of the USA, Michelle’s ability to step up at bat clearly moved him. Also see link here.
Miriama’s report also contains footage of the “spectacular show” that latest over an hour when Otautahi Christchurch experienced an intense electrical storm. Loved the purple skyline views as the backdrop of lightning striking. It’s hard to say who was more dynamic, Michelle or the natural electiricty of the storm? :)
Stunning news though, if you have an inclination to watch it.
Peace!
[To the contributing journalists. Thank you for the news].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 5.9.12~
Cool sports footage is: Dr Phillips’ Panthers American college football team getting their Te Reo Rangatira groove on (in New Zealand’s authentic language of Chiefs) while performing a team Maori haka on the football park.
Not bad at all from the USA sports arena. Go Maori culture in sports and in the USA! And go too Oralando Florida sports stars of the world. :)
Should New Zealand send more Maori Sports coaches to the USA? Most probably, yeah.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 3.9.12~
[Photo caption: Replace and reload, nobody does it better than coach Nick Saban. On the football field he turns water into wine--Bryan Fischerblog. Photo Matthew Emmons--US Press Wire].
It is Week 1 of College Football in the USA:What’s going on?
Press Release: “Big Ten scoreboard: Alabama 41, Michigan 14: The outcome was never in question as the defending National Champions led 31-7 at halftime. The Tide amassed 430 yards to Michigan’s 268 and Denard Robinson was just 11 of 26 with two interceptions and a touchdown.
Indiana 24, Indiana State 17: The Hoosiers won for the first time since last September, and sophomore QB Tre Roberson was 26 of 36 for 280 yards. Indiana, which allowed an average of 37 points last year, limited the Sycamores to 387 total yards.
Purdue 48, Eastern Kentucky 6: QB Caleb TerBush was suspended before the game leaving quarterback duties to Robert Marve. The 6th year quarterback threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns while the defense allowed just 190 yards.
Nebraska 49, Southern Mississippi 20: Junior Taylor Martinez threw for a career-high 348 yards and five touchdowns and the team combined for 625 yards as they downed the Golden Eagles. Senior RB Rex Burkhead left the game in the first quarter with a sprained MCL but not before he ran for 68 yards and a touchdown.
[Maori culture impacting sports in the USA: Video clip, The Trojans perform the haka at a football game] (more…)
Janet Jackson and family rocked out to Gary Indiana, to remember what would have been music star Michael Jackson‘s 54th B’day. Living in LA when MJ died was one of the surrealist moments in life. Los Angeles played his music non-stop for a week or more. It was MJ boom box car wars in drive time – where USA’s hits are decided first, nationwide and are boomed out to the world from LA.
On the sides of LA’s most prominent buildings, biz owners projected images of the late King of Pop dancing his dance moves that had changed music entertainment worldwide. Jackson had also invented music awards shows template of entertainers and also music tours technology too. He did so much.
When LA turned on an MJ show across the cityscape, in that moment, you really knew LA had a King. It was spontaneous, no one had orchestrated the show. Yet a city who entertained just knew what to do. Totally surreal. He was for the people and of the people and the people responded back that week.
At the time, MJ’s absence swung to popstar Rihanna‘s rising star. LA clubs interspersed MJ hits with Riri’s and so a foreigner of the USA’s star was sealed in Rihanna’s legacy to LA too who was also following in the footsteps of Janet. It wasn’t acknowledged by all in the USA at the time, however there was no star greater than Michael Jackson in the USA until he died. (more…)
I’ve never read the book, Fifty Shades of Grey. Hollywood is making the film into a movie. Casting is underway. The usual heartthrob names have come up for the lead role of Christian Grey. Should it be Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp or someone else?, Hollywood is asking. PolicyMic also recommendsRyan Gosling. Let’s face it, the leading lad sort of has to resemble a younger version of Mitt Romney or Mitt’s running mate. Why Gosling, stands a good chance perhaps. Just saying.
Then there’s the issue of greed and inequality rates escalating so high over the past 7-10 years amongst the wealthy, aided by bankers and those who wore ties, that you have to ask, is it really a good time to make this film? Tie jade repellent factor is something the PR of the film will need to get audiences over, for younger audiences to find the movie relevant – the future of Hollywood films.
For casting directors who may read the blog, Tennessee folks are the top rating American stars on the blog over the last 9 days. Why? Who knows, yet the world seems to want to see more of Tennessee lately on a trends tracking level.
Back to Hollywood casting: True Blood HBO actor, Alexander Skarsgard‘s new TVC where he co-stars with model Lara Stone has some pundits hoping Skarsgard will be approached to star in the lead. Watch the TVC and make up your own mind. Skarsgard for Hollywood’s silver screen invention of Christian Grey?
Or should the role go to a newcomer, no one has ever heard of? That would be rad. Like a talent search reality TV series, then TV audiences could vote on their lead of choice. In the process, new actors would be discovered too by the audience votes. With a decent script, their movies would always be hits, because the people voted them onto the screen before the actors even started in Hollywood.
Maybe that’s too rad thinking and too creative an approach for Hollywood?, yet not a silly idea to shake Hollywood up a tad. It would be cool to see a deserving every day guy, become a big Hollywood star. Like a farmer who acts in their local theater company once a year, or a single parent chippie, building homes in Utah for cheeky Swiss-Mormons’ charities. That kind of vibe could work too. An unknown from Colorado could also be a good mix for America’s future plans.
Just create a new heartthrob, cast them opposite Hollywood’s leading lights names, then hello, big box office smash hit would ensue for E L James, spin-off film franchise. It worked for The Twilight saga films, in Summit Entertainment, a fledging film company. Why not try the same casting approach for this film franchise and older actors?
In any event, Calvin Klein’s fragrance marketing team has done a swell job at seguing into author E.L James’ audience following, with the Skarsgard TVC Fifty Shades referencing buzzing it’s way across the 50 States of the USA this weekend. He’s so savvy that CK in flogging his scents range.
In other casting news & talent management in the Hollywood hood, Brits are making a wave, alongside Australia’s Hemsworth clan. Also check out: 11 British Actors Invading Hollywood’s ‘It List’ too. An actor called Lloyd would be good from Britain, as a Fed approved and bonafide potential Hollywood talent too. At this stage, I’d go the unknown local community hero casting, then Skarsgard-Ryan, at the populous vote. They’ve both certainly got what it takes to helm such a film franchise for E L James.
PAUL TOOHEY NOTES HOW ELECTION USA IS ABOUT “A GAS TANK ON WHEELS” – & USA-MADE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
Paul Toohey is writing from the USA on how it’s going on the US election campaign trail. Apparently it’s all about gas and the type of tank on wheels you put it in and if it is an American-made tank for gas or not.
Or the American economy is a gas tank on wheels basically.
Here’s his words:
Mitt Romney is finding out that you should never stand between an American and his American-made car.
As President Barack Obama closes out his re-election campaign in the car towns of the US, his Republican rival is under sustained attack from the media and autoworkers for falsely claiming US car jobs are headed for China.
It’s now too late for Mr Romney to untangle himself from his comments on the car industry, which he followed with a damaging new campaign ad.
Both have cost him savage media coverage across Ohio, the swing state he most needs to win when America heads to the polls tomorrow. (more…)
November 5, 2012 | Categories: America, Anne Romney, Barack Obama, Cars, Fossil Fuels, Gas Prices, Guest Commentary, Mitt Romney, Politics, USA, World News | Leave A Comment »