A SONG FOR HOLLYWOOD KIWIS – HE KAKANO, AN ORNAMENT OF GRACE
For educational purposes –here’s some waiata light (songlight) from Hollywood today–in Te Reo Rangatira, the Maori language.
Gorgeous poetic lyrics.
So uplifting – an ornament of grace for the spirit in a diverse world.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.6.10~
AMERICA IS BECOMING MORE BILINGUAL – CENSUS RESULTS 2010
To fully appreciate America in the 2020′s global citizens of the world could benefit from speaking Spanish to fully engage in American cultural life and its development forward.
Robert Groves of Census.Gov and team share information that proves that America is becoming more bilingual this year. Electorate seats will also be rezoned. Some lost.
“For the first time, we are providing a series of demographic analysis estimates to more clearly demonstrate the uncertainty in these figures,” said Census director Groves.
The numbers show the nation’s population ranged from 305.7 million to 307.4 million based on lower rates of immigration, which independent think-tanks such as the Pew Hispanic Center have said dropped off sharply recently due to the souring U.S. economy.
Sharing from The Washington Post, Census Gov says, ‘Hispanics accounted for all the growth in the youth population in the last decade. In 2000, Hispanics made up 17 percent of the U.S. population under age 20. They now represent somewhere between 22 and 25 percent of that age group.
African American News: ‘There were roughly 40.9 million to 41.7 million blacks in the U.S., based on a tabulation that includes Hispanic blacks. That would put the share of blacks at roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population.’
Hispanics Are Keeping America Young: ‘Without Hispanics, the number of young people in the U.S. would have declined between 2000 and 2010. Based on the estimates, the non-Hispanic youth population declined somewhere between 1.25 million and 2.9 million.’
Driving Force: ‘Hispanics are the driving force behind this youth diversity,” said Kenneth Johnson, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire, who reviewed the numbers. 
SCANNING VICTORIAN CULTURE – VICTORIAN KEY WORDS ARE SCANNED TO BE ANALYZED
To date Google has access to scanned digital information of books: Number of books scanned: fifteen million. Number of pages: five billion. Number of words: over two trillion discovered. [Read these Keynote speech docs ...Keynote Speech docs to discover more]. Word fascination means that Projects like Google Books, the Internet Archive’s OpenLibrary, and HathiTrust are growing.
Knowing how Victorian mindsets tick is an Obsession right now with some American academics. The UK is about to become more transparent in its information sharing of greatest literary minds past: This story fascinates in The New York Times. Photo by Erik Jacobs.
Selected paragraphs penned by Patricia Cohen:
“Victorians were enamored of the new science of statistics, so it seems fitting that these pioneering data hounds are now the subject of an unusual experiment in statistical analysis. The titles of every British book published in English in and around the 19th century — 1,681,161, to be exact — are being electronically scoured for key words and phrases that might offer fresh insight into the minds of the Victorians.”
“Dan Cohen and Fred Gibbs, the two historians of science at George Mason University who have created the project, have so far charted how frequently more than two dozen words — among them “God,” “love,” “work,” “science” and “industrial” — appear in British book titles from the French Revolution in 1789 to the beginning of World War I in 1914.”
As Cohen gave an early presentation of findings to date, “Meredith Martin, an assistant professor of English at Princeton who is studying the history of poetic form, was interested in the terms “prosody,” “meter” and “verse.”“I actually sent him an e-mail as he was talking,” Ms. Martin said. She figured he would be inundated with requests, and “I wanted to be first in line.””
MAORI YOUNG PEOPLE SHINE AT MAWHERA MINERS COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY, NEW ZEALAND
A celebrity is someone whose life is worthy of being celebrated–new culture’s kaupapa (or principle).
In the bonds of love we meet–New Zealand’s national anthem
Love is healing and recovering honestly and openly together, acknowledging life, loss, past present and future in community together. Grieving the ugly and celebrating the beauty of what each life gifts community is growing up in love too as a nation–watch this clip.
Greymouth Miners Remembrance Ceremony Footage is supplied by Te Karere Maori News reporting live from Mawhera, Te Wai Pounamu, Aoteroa New Zealand. This news footage denotes the magnitude felt by community across the board in this coast township.
I like the interview which shows variation in Maori dialectical variations of New Zealand’s indigenous peoples own unique diversity between Irena Smith and Kathleen of Mawhera. We call it Nga Mita o Te Reo (dialects). The interview shares the story of grief’s depths. My favorite part of the footage is the young people of Mawhera singing in Maori to lift the spirits of the grieving. Maori young people are so special. Such good kids, putting aside their own grief for friends and family to find the strength and grace to encourage others. They are descendants of people who have been doing this in Mawhera for many centuries.
As a Kiwi who lives in Hollywood I find all the words in English equally as important and moving as the words in Te Reo Rangatira (the language of Chiefs). Enjoy this very special view–a cultural treasure of New Zealand as new culture grows and develops alongside these Maori young people’s development that the nation of New Zealand speaks of in the copy below. Powerful stuff. Mawhera young people are Hollywood stars today on this blog, just because they are. Alright–we need to upgrade these kids with funding to get some swanky new cultural uniforms for performing on such global occasions I think and make them a little bit of a priority. A fine effort from these young leaders.
The following news coverage story is via English NTDTV: Memorial services were held in Greymouth, New Zealand, for the 29 miners who perished in an accident at the Pike River coal mine last month. A two-minute moment of silence was observed, and local school children sang songs of remembrance. (more…)
HUMOR – REDNECK WEDDING PHOTOS
Lol! Priceless.
This redneck wedding cake is too funny. Very Aussie or West Auckland too, actually.
[For a diverse view and more smiles, go here]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.30.10~
RIHANNA STUDIES, THE ART OF CELEBRITY AS SOCIOLOGY AND A GQ BRITANNIA MAGAZINE COVER, DECEMBER 2010
I saw that The University of Carolina is offering a Major in Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame. Pop music as a vehicle of leadership in nationhood’s direction is what kids want to study. Really a University should be offering science and advanced mathematics or physics papers in the US in an effort to close the gap on Education being an equipping tool towards being viable competitors in the future direction of a global economy.
If sociology is a lure to get kids into college to see what it’s all about, all good–perhaps they should be offering a 2 hour lecture in Rihanna Studies instead though. Kids would learn just as much, although Rihanna is not technically an American citizen. Although shaping American culture so much as an artist, rather humorously, her visa status is still that of an alien. She is the USA’s Alien Queen of the 2010′s.
In 2008, Rihanna was ranked in the top four on google New Zealand trends for the year. Her live performances in Auckland The Supercity were well appreciated from fans. A then relatively unknown American leader (to the-wider-world), Barack Obama, also made the top ten in this innovative and perceptive trend-spotting small nation. At this time, New Zealand’s current Prime Minister, was not yet ranked in the top ten (Sir Edmund Hillary was instead, at no. 7) yet Rihanna and Mr Obama were on New Zealand’s cultural radar of people they like.
As a comparison, Australia ranked Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith in their top ten and Mr Obama was not yet on the radar in Australia’s mindsets at all that same year in a significant way. Rihanna however (was ranked no.9 in Australia that year as a trend) denoting that she is a key figure and entertainer to the South Pacific and Asia Pacific territories. She was the only person of color in Australia’s top ten that year to ‘cross-over’ as an accepted trend, whereas New Zealand had 3 people of color trend that same year. It is fair to say, that as a star, leader and a cultural-architect artist of a modern world–that Rihanna is always a forerunner of the world’s elite leaders. This is her destiny as a person. Let’s look at what she’s gifted the American people, so far.
What would GQ be, without its Rihanna magazine covers in the US or Britannia? You need at least one Rihanna moment as your cover girl each year to be a successful men’s magazine. This girl is both pretty, tough and resilient in making a comeback when beaten down. She can also make a fashion accessory super hot–that all stars emulate and fashion designers incorporate into their styles of design. She’s the edge of trendsetting when she feels like playing the diva role.
She also gave America a powerful image of someone who recovered from post traumatic stress disorder of something unexpected that can hit a life in America, requiring a major rebuilding effort. Her Chris Brown domestic violence saga of the past catapulted Rihanna into superstar status. Resilience was added to her star exotic brand in that tragic moment of callous American mistreatment by young Chris towards a foreigner living and working in Los Angeles. That media moment was bloody awful. Thankfully Chris Brown has moved on from the incident too now, maturing from it also.
There has never been anyone who lived in Hollywood Hills, quite like Rihanna who has contributed to American culture in difficult years, offering hope or distraction or attitude or just good fun. She’s quite unique. Via Barbados and the Commonwealth, along with Beyonce she is the All American Girl inspirer of the last decade. Next year, I wonder if actor/ singer/ fashion sequer and stylist, Kat Graham, a newbie who is currently sporting top hats of British gentry of the UK, will get to land on GQ too?
In the meantime, here’s the hardworking Riri, amusing Britain with those looks. In the last 11 months, she’s just not stopped working. Respec. In fact Rihanna’s music accomplishments are second to none in America–she’s pop royalty and the Commonwealth’s black queen of pop. In 2008 when Rihanna performed live for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, she wore earrings reflecting the shape of the late Princess Diana‘s engagement ring, the same ring now being worn by Kate Middleton. With her symbology that constitutes pop star monarchy’s iconography, that millions of people worldwide follow–as symbols of empire that they think define them, Rihanna is always smart. Equally subtle as confrontation, a rare mix. Rihanna is a little naughty, she’s the only music artist to give the Queen a diva snear at the end of her performance, before she curtsied–an expression the Queen would never allow herself to do in public, even if she wanted to. The moment from Rihanna is cute.
Hitfix reports that Riri (who this blog is sorta named after too), is the no.1 charting artist of the millennium. The music website writes: “Only Girl In the World jumps to No. 1 this week, giving Rihanna her second single from Loud to hit the top spot. Two weeks ago, What’s My Name featuring Drake was at No. 1. Loud debuts at No. 3 this week on the Billboard 200.
Riri makes history. It is the first time (more…)
SMILING MAORI YOUNG PEOPLE PERFORMING LIVE ARE SO VIBRANT
There’s just something about Maori young people singing and performing live in the poetic language of Te Reo Rangatira (the Language of Chiefs) with beautiful smiles that reminds you, these young leaders are from a very vibrant culture.
Love them! Can’t get enough of their visage and unbridled talents on display in Hollywood. Beautiful.
Oh and if you’re reading this post from Hollywood–no this really is not “lost footage from the director’s cut of Dances with Wolves–young people really perform like this every day in places like Waitangi or Roto-Vegas/ Rotorua or many other beautiful cities too. One of my favorite spots in seeing Maori perform is at the Tuhoe tribe’s Te Hui Ahurei o Tūhoe Festval. These young people are the best and they speak the language as their first language each day.
They’re also cinematic. Their first movie is in development. It’s humorously titled: Hambones at the Pork Bone Puha Hotel. Now this is THE movie for any A-List Hollywood actor to do a cameo in. It’s going to be both funny & fab!
They’re so authentic and beautiful in performance. The kids of Ngai Tuhoe also are amazing artists and their artworks (paintings) are so special. Deep. Meaningful. I purchased one, last time I was in attendance at this event.
If you must have your fix, of seeing Maori appear and perform live, finding out more about these two cities, is a good start when planning your global travel entertainment.
Culturally vibrant travel–is always adventurous and enriching to one’s worldview. You know it. Cheers!
Maori young people also add a lot to America’s diverse tourism industry, especially in Hawaii, President Obama‘s home state–all year round. Go here to check these Maori kids, who help America out. They’re such good selfless young people. Amazing!!! I love them.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.27.10~
CHELSEA HANDLER’S STAR GETS HOTTER AND THE HORIWOOD TOP TEN 11-26-10
Everything about Los Angeles talk show host Chelsea Handler is hot these days.
Above, Chelsea managed to get Taylor Swift onto her show to confess she’s a fan. Handler is having Thanksgiving holidays with Jennifer Aniston in Los Cabos, Mexico (see pics below) and even her co-hosts/ writers of The Chelsea Lately Show are appearing in Hollywood comedies like Morning Glory and No Strings Attached. This is what can happen to girls who are half Catholic, half Jewish from New Jersey and who are funny and date their boss. Love it.
In fairness, I’m running this Chelsea Handler spotlight post today as Chelsea’s Boss’ Boss of E! Entertainment Television is Comcast and NBC/ Universal, who are broadcasting The Rugby World Cup in America next year. This makes them super hot for that pioneering sports spirit. By proxi, Chelsea Handler and her team too. Nice work from Chelsea all round in L.A! A funny girl.
Celebrities entertainment news you loved and voted in Hollywood today. Here’s our top ten.
1. One Tree Hill – U2 in New Zealand, a tribute of love, life, loss
4. Johnny Depp
5. L. Vonn
7. The 29 names of the trapped miners in New Zealand
8. Montana Native American Indians – global warming warning
9. Kris Fa’faoi
10. Prestige Dance Group–Championship winning performance
[Images of Chelsea Handler and Jennifer Aniston with a friend courtesy of Bauer Griffin Online]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.26.10~
PRESTIGE DANCE GROUP SHINE WITH POLYNESIAN ROBOTIC DISCIPLINE IN NEW ZEALAND
This is what a Kiwi team of champions looks like.
Pride of Aotearoa/ New Zealand = a pride of acrobats and action stars 2010′s.
Hot dance News/ Family News: Who? Prestige dance group is a group of Kiwi-Polynesian lads.
Hollywood Claim to fame: Jordan Samuel, aka Jay-V is my nephew and namesake. He also dances in this group.
Global Claim to Fame: 1st Place performance at World Supremacy Battlegrounds 2010, South-Pacific.
Skill: Polynesian robotic discipline fused with endless creativity. A new generation arises.
Dance Group Origins: Auckland – The Supercity, North Island, New Zealand.
Arts & Culture as Skills: Military dance focus akin to Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson dance discipline for inspiration and entertainment purposes in the world.
Creativity: They are self-taught, self-choreographed. The ensemble shines–a Polynesian-Kiwi art form in effect. Community in unison is star.
Vibe: Off the chain.
What should happen: They all should be cast in a 3D action film. So talented. They’ve got mad skills. Put these guys in super hero costumes then film them in 3D. Wow! They’d be amazing. Think Dwayne Johnson x 11.
Rating: Group effort, little budget, focus. High energy. They are self supporting artists. But the Result is 10/10. Awesome! Mighty men.
Demand: Performing in Melbourne Australia and Sydney Australia. Trans-Tasman dance group. Their current self-expression takes the form of dance experts. However, they are all stars in the making.
Very cool. Mauri ‘Ola Prestige. You’re rocking! You make me proud to be a Kiwi.
[Pic: Jordan Samuel Graham (left) hangs out hood-side with his mates. Image Jay-V's own]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.22.10~
MILKYBAR KID FINALISTS NEW ZEALAND
In New Zealand, the fiercest election ever has just occurred.
Here’s the ten finalists to be the next Milkybar Kid cowgirl or cowboy star of Middle Earth. Cute. For having dreams bigger than Texas these Kiwi Kids all stars in this Hollywood book, regardless of who took the most votes.
In no particular order, here’s the the finalists that were shortlisted to the top ten by Nestle, producers of fine creamy white chocolate. Creme de la creme chocolate makers.
1. Hinetaaproa Short of Roto-Vegas
2. Dominic Burrows of Invercargill
3. Astaria Tigerlily Te Aukura of Auckland The Supercity
4. Sam Kirby of Christchurch – The Garden City
5. Eloise Greenwood of Auckland The Supercity
6. Natalie Olson of Wellywood Wellington
7. Madison Hunter of Auckland The Supercity
8. Asher Quin of DunedinThe Scottish-Kiwi City
9. Benjamin Clark of Auckland The Supercity
10. Samyah Powell of Whangarei City, Northland North Auckland 10/10
Kiwi kids – Mauri ‘Ola – Let’s Rock the 2010′s! :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.18.10~
KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH THE UKELELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN
Brills. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.17.10~
TE AUTE AND HUKARERE COLLEGES for LIVING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CULTURES SHINING IN THE WORLD
Who: Te Aute Boys High School and Hukarere Maori Girls High School of New Zealand.
What: Performing a Waiata Tira (Traditional Song). Their performing arts genre is called kapa haka.
Why: To perpetuate their unique Indigenous Peoples worldview and language in a modern world.
Their language: Smiles and Te Reo Rangatira (The Language of Chiefs).
Star Draw: Their people have been doing this for centuries in beautiful Middle Earth, Aoteaora New Zealand.
Claim to Fame: Horiwood’s Aunt, “Aunty Waratah of Helensville” was the long-serving matron of Turakina Maori Girls College, a sister school of the Hukarere Girls school, featured here. This song in Hollywood goes up for her and what she believes is possible for all girls and children of Indigenous Peoples cultures in the world if they stay true to themselves and just express that in the world.
This is my Aunt’s life message as reflected in these kids singing. Some of her life’s work on display.
Aspiration: My Aunt is proudly of the Ngapuhi and Ngati Whaatua Maori tribes of New Zealand. Yet, she serves all other Maori tribal leaders childrens’ life’s purpose into the world equally.
She is not tribalist, she’s bigger than that. She’s a global thinker. I love my Aunt a lot for her largeness of heart and purity of spirit. An example for all Maori and Polynesian and Kiwi politicians to emulate perhaps as a take (cultural challenge of leadership) from Hollywood today.
In its purest sense (dating back over a century from NZ), my Aunt’s actions prove she believes in true equality, just like her ancestors believed and taught her. So do I. Hence going to the trouble of creating and sharing this post from The Entertainment Capitol of The World.
Political Point: May we always have the foresight, heart and wisdom to include indigenous peoples at the forefront of everything we do. Their worldviews are diverse and amazing. They look after landscape, people, the human spirit and have a message of preservation always for future generations.
What’s best about these kids: If you talk to any of them, they are all very funny. They have the best sense of humor. Funny kids, naturally.
Personally I like their message a lot. Wisdom as gifts for the world is contained in these young peoples’ culture and thinking. We need it. LOUDER!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.17.10~
“NATIVE AMERICAN” INDIAN STORE IN THE VALLEY – 11.17.10
The Valley always brings a smile. In right or wrong ways.
Here’s some images of “Native American Indian” Art, right on Ventura Blvd in The Valley, California. More specifically located at The Indian Art Center of California. A shop.
Worth sharing today as a commentary on society in general. There wasn’t a real Indian in sight. Go figure.
My always over-active brain asked the questions: Where are the real Native American Indians at, in Hollywood? And where is the Native American Indian line up of Senators in the American Senate? State Governors too?
Instead, let’s just share these pictures. Do I believe that any “Native American Indian” visual presence is better than none? Yes I do. The rest is up to US –of “the political issues” that these artworks raise awareness of, in modern society. Inclusion vs Exclusion? People in dialogue with landscape and natural resources preservation or not?
I think we need these peoples view in the world, across a lot of government policy-setting and decision-making arenas, don’t you?
By the way, I love The Valley. It can be a fun place. Known to be a little less uptight and snobby, than other parts of Los Angeles. There are a lot of nice people there too.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.17.10~
THANKS FOR THE BLOG LOVE PEOPLE!
Today was the biggest growth day on the blog in two months.
Thanks for the mad love everyone. Together, we’re making history.
God bless you all. Thank you.
Let’s rock this, together!
___________________
What I have learned at this point blogging, is that Maori-Kiwis really can live away from whanau (family) iwi (tribe) in the US full time, for 4 and a half years now.
I’ve learned that I love America, more than most people claim they do.
This is a great nation, diverse and beautiful and I feel very privileged and blessed to have been a small part of it, during some very interesting years. As most of you who read the blog are American, “thank you,” have faith in yourself, as many of us (your friends who are non-American) do. We believe in you!
No matter what the day may serve up, may a growing bond never change between you and your allied nations of friends. When you’re down, it us who, within reason, hold your arms up in shared victory. That’s what real friends are for. Kiwis (New Zealanders) are such real people. We don’t quit good people. The victory is not always monetary. A change for you all perhaps in these not always smooth, political years and growing pains. Instead, the victory we share together is a shared world for future generations, beyond temporary moments of instant gratification known as ‘our lifetime.’
On that note, here’s a group of lads, all of whom are perhaps much more noble than me –yet not one has my profile, even though they all should– whose ancestors all raised them to think of their grandchildren’s grandchildren. Here’s some more Maori entertainment from the priceless lads of K2 Maori Company.
Blogging in H-Wood, most days I feel like one of these bros. Not much different to any one them. I believe that not enough Maori men are seen or visible at high profile levels of leadership in the world. Yet the world needs what Maori men know culturally, at this point in world history. Especially in America, hence a motivating reason of why I blog.
Incidentally, most Kiwi kids grew up singing this song. I was about ten? I think, when I first learned it with my siblings, next door neighbors and friends. I still know all the words off by heart. When I was in Hawaii I heard some Hawaiian bros singing this hori jingle too, so it’s a bit of a global hit, worth sharing. Americans… you’re quite surprising people, to know this song. Thank you all for being a part of our diverse view, that includes Maori presence (taste preferences and observations) daily too in Hollywood and America. Mauri ‘Ola - life to you!
Golden couple of the day: Jessica Simpson & Eric Johnson
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.14.10~
MEET BENJAMIN CLARK – A MILKYBAR KID FOREVER!
“Think you used enough dynamite their buddy?”–Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid scripting
Meet young Benjamin Clark. He’s from Auckland the Supercity in New Zealand and he’s gunning for the title of the Milkybar Kid.
Nestle chocolate’s adventurous child cowboy hero, is a New Zealand legend for rounding up baddies who stop kids from having the whitest creamiest milk chocolate on the planet. A new nationwide search began a while back for this new TVC campaign in Middle Earth. Do you think Ben should be the next white chocolate cowboy of his generation?
Good luck young Benjamin Clark. Dream big – Anything is possible.
Here’s a vintage TV commercial below, I was raised on watching as a kid. Incidentally Auckland The Supercity is a fantastic place to visit with children and also to raise children in. It’s a lot of fun. Yachting cowboys is one thing Auckland is known for in raising good kids.
In Auckland children are given the opportunity to grow up in-the-main to be quite courteous, culturally savvy, intelligent (good schools, colleges and education) and always adventurous in the amazing outdoors of clean and green, New Zealand paradise. Everyday I miss it. New Zealand really is that good.
Check out Benjamin Clarke’s City here:
[Western movie scene- Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman & Robert Redford - Being a cowboy is a risky business, when fighting for your creamy white chocolate. Explosive results sometimes happen on the cowboy trail quite by accident. Watch this clip: Dust, smoke, splinters and cash blowing in the wind - oops, an American Western! One of many in Hollywood's much loved filmic archives]
Good Luck Ben! Whether you win the MK hat or not, you’re a Milkybar Kid here in Hollywood today on this blog. Go get it all! The world is your swagger. Here’s looking at you kid. Represent for Auckland! :)
~Image: Irving Swifty Lazar‘s star. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.13.10~
PIANO KIDS – BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE
Michael Jackson had some pretty diverse fans aye?
Watch these two lads tribute on the piano to MJ’s Blame it on the boogie.
It gets Groovy at the 2:08 minute mark.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.8.10~
TAHITIAN DANCE HIPS by THE KIWI-TAHITIAN GIRLS OF AUCKLAND, THE SUPERCITY
No one can quite move their hips and hands, like the Kiwi-Tahitian girls dancing to cultural choreography in Auckland, The Supercity New Zealand. They’re the Polynesian version of beautiful Middle-Eastern belly dancers of the Middle East. These one’s are found in peaceful beautiful clean and green New Zealand, or, Middle Earth if you’re a fan of New Zealand cinema.
Anyway Kiwi-Tahitian girls are quite unique in New Zealand. Seen at the Pasifika Cultural festival (they’re the highlight) each year.
Check them out one year. Well worth it. :)
Happy global traveling and exploring diversely colorful dance cultures of the world. Chalk Auckland into your cities to visit. The city’s mayor Len Brown has this to say as an official invite to US all:
“Auckland Mayor Len Brown has taken the first steps towards making Auckland one of the world’s leading events cities.
The mayor has commissioned a report from the council controlled organisation Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development Ltd on how to make the city more of a destination for unforgettable local and international events.
“I want Aucklanders to have a sense of pride and excitement about the events in their city, I want Kiwis from other regions to come and experience the best we can offer, and I want international visitors to go home telling everyone Auckland is the place to go,” says Len Brown.
Next year, Auckland hosts international events such as the Rugby World Cup 2011 followed by Volvo Ocean Race, and the ITU World Championships in 2012. Auckland’s biennial arts festival celebrates its fifth birthday, showcasing artists and performers from New Zealand and abroad, and as every year, the city hosts the largest Pacific festival in the world, Pasifika.
“We will continue to attract high profile international events while promoting our distinctive local events to domestic and international visitors. Similarly attractions around the city, such as sculpture or wine trails, can be promoted as regional packages to our visitors. With all our attractions, stunning environment and friendly people, we have the potential to develop a world class reputation and a prosperous tourism industry,” says Len Brown.” 
Fun, let’s do it then. Heilani Hula School, Hawaii also has Tahitian dancers too. This post also features Indian actress, Smita Patel. :)
Air New Zealand is the airline to give a whirl. They’re cool.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.8.10~
DANCE VIDEO – FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA LEARNS INDIAN DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY
Watch clip here.
FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, laid all her American dance moves aside and leaped into some new fun and learning, dancing with young people in India.
Their traditional music, is a little bit hip, as reflected in this dance video too of Beyonce dancing at a block party with arms raised, Indian style also. (Kylie Minogue‘s arm/ hand movements choreography from her new music video Get Outta My Way, a few weeks before Beyonce was filmed, doing Indian-styled hip hop choregraphy, also reflects the same trait. Hands expression in dance is India).
Nice cross-cultural similarities being found and created right now in world history (in arts and cultural performing arts) between America and India with Mrs Obama. Quite novel really, who ever would have thought?
Also Britney Spears Bollywood choreography in her Circus World Tour was also a forward-thinking example of this. The most successful cross-over American artist in India’s history is Michael Jackson (1/4 of all music download in India, is that of MJ’s). Nice to see Michelle Obama going after the Jackson golden trail of cultural appeal that Indians like… in the dance of life that in universally shared by us all.
Janet Jackson also demonstrated this in her no. 1 hit, Runaway -the music video,15-years ago for American women crossing over into India by paying tribute and respect to Indian women’s legacy of dance as performing artists. That clip below. Michelle Obama makes it look so natural and easy for America to dance Indian. Love it, just like the world loves Janet doing the same thing. Mrs Obama is the first First Lady of America to do this. Go Michelle!:
Of course, being a Kiwi I ask the question, what would Bollywood musicals choreography look like, filmed in the colorful magic of 3D cinematic mastery? Now there’s the future of cinema and musical cinema(s) bridge-building cross-culturally smart, right there. A part of it, anyway. Peter Jackson directing a simulation of the Taj Mahal imagery in 3D could be quite hot, when filming action and choreography. Watching Mrs Obama perform in the above clip also reminds me of Avondale, a city in Auckland The Supercity and the culturally rich Kiwi-Indian community of New Zealand. Love them.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.8.10~
AB – AUBERGINE, BABA GANOUSH RECIPE for RUGBY FOOTBALL FANS AND A-LIST AMERICAN CELEBRITIES
A different view: Photoshopped Aubergine featuring the letters, A & B.
If you blog from Hollywood “A” will always stand for Angeles, Angel (a messenger), or, Angelina (Jolie) – a second generation proven Hollywood star and cultural, global treasure of America.
“B” in Hollywood’s current celebrity star system, will always stand for Brad (Pitt)- champion celebrity supporter of the New Orleans Saints football team, who wear a Super Bowl ring. “B” stands for Barack (President Obama, husband of FLOTUS Michelle Obama) and Bill (Clinton) husband of the current US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton or (more current) Canada‘s teen entertainer, Bieber (Justin) or a returning Kawana (Governor) of California, Jerry Brown too.
Of these names listed – American culture is spun, millions of dollars, time, energy, resources, hours and hours and hours of global attention and effort are spent printing, distributing, broadcasting, (watching, viewing, emulating, discussing at office water coolers) any inkling of a sighting or a key message from any one of these names.
As celebrities of entertainment, politics, music, arts and culture – they form a multi-billion dollar industry that generates around them each day. AB people, leading the world – in a metaphor of a (solar) star system, or the particles of an atom. They are the oracles, of a Super Power’s discourse. The artillery (signifiers elect by popular free-choice vote) of a super power’s dominance and culture–imploring the key message of: ‘emulate US’ worldwide. They’re fun people. Fun sells. As celebrities of US culture, I like them all. More often than not, they always bring a smile.
“B” also equals whose got the ball. B is also about what you do for others when you have the ball.
You’re an A-List star in Hollywood when you do A-List worthy things with the ball you hold in your hands for others. Angelina Jolie perhaps sums this up the best, on her humanitarian missions for the UN, to people of the world most needing advocacy. AB is a blood type (like any other, O type for example is too) –the signifier of human life globally–symbolizing the movement of a pulse for the good, across the globe, for people.
Practically speaking though, if you’re from New Zealand and you’re a rugby football enthusiast, AB stands for All Blacks and of them and what they have achieved in sports and what AB’s culture has inspired for human rights records of the World (cf: Nelson Mandela‘s story and human rights, apartheid advocacy via Maori New Zealanders and Kiwis in the documentary films of artist, Merata Mita, one of the most significant filmic artists in the world of all time, who held, focused or directed a camera, in often zero budget filming conditions–yet in a Queenly manner, like Angelina Jolie is now as a debut director, seeing beyond color bars into the heart of genocidal, raping tendencies as a filmic theme)–is only the stuff Hollywood legends are written of and made of. Hence that very long sentence. Sorry ’bout that.
On the other side of the world, in New Zealand, at a significant time in world history as captured on film in Merata’s film, Patu! – AB’s culture helped free a Nobel Peace Prize Winning King, of South Africa. His life story of freedom, is a Kiwi story too. He’s in our hot mix. Maori and Kiwi’s freed him with advocacy also, helping give Nelson his long awaited cup of Liberty in his unique journey of a very long walk to freedom as a now celebrated South Africa icon of the world. When New Zealand play South Africa in rugby, we celebrate our part we play, in his ongoing legacy of freedom. He gave us a challenge, we responded, and that legacy to free others, will always be what we do in rugby country, Middle Earth. It’s a proven gift, a cultural taonga (inner treasure) AB Kiwi-thinkers have, carry, possess, pass on to others when needed for the world.
We instigate the play and the pass of freedom with our actions and instincts, outworked in a teamwork formation. We always have.
AB thinkers and action star-doers, are ‘Humanitarian Messangers of Sport.’ They are down-to-earth and fine Commonwealth people. Their nobility of spirit is defined by a Joe Blogg’s-appearing cloak of humility.
Like any rugby football enthusiast or ‘team work sports’ appreciating Kiwi in the world –The AB’s are our fun heroes. Gladiators of sport, whenever they appear, they symbolize fearless change in a modern world of fiercely contested challenges. New teamwork strategies in play is what they evolve as a science of sport and an art form of globally loved entertainment. They are masters at evolving the game of play and making it better.
Image: Photo-shopped Aubergine (deep purple) appearing as black. Hot image via Freaking News website.
[For a good Baba Ganoush dip recipe, enjoyed by people in the Middle East equally (regardless of geographical borders) and also with people in the Western World too, check out David Bovitz recipe. Pictures are also DB's. Recipe found here].
What’s cooking in your kitchen for the world America? Good things, I trust. Happy cooking, creating, eating, shared and diverse dining. Peace ya’ll! :)
[Below Image: 'Canterbury Kia Mau Training Rugby Ball" courtesy if Ikon Sport].
A and B are two important keys on a King or Queen’s piano’s keyboard. I am not either. I am the “C” key, of Middle Earth (eyes are needed to C), like any try-and-do-some-good Kiwi does, I try and join in too, in and around supporting our rugby footballers to excel in teamwork opportunities that get the best results on and off the field.
Our rugby players are our AB’s stars. The rest of us Kiwi’s – at best, tend to play the “Middle C” key role of Middle Earth – to entertain for a peaceful and productive future of “big hearted” purposes in the world. Baba Ganoush - with pita bread as a change from Latino-staple Corn Chips and Salsa, in this Jerry Brown latino-voted California’s elect future, of political climate change terrain of Hollywood, that I blog from. Exciting times.
Keeping it real, is having a diverse taste palate. That way, we’re more likely to consider the needs of others, with a worldview different and/or similar to our own. Mature tastes then maturing together with consideration and love for others in our stout rugby and football hearts- Baba Ganoush, why not?! You know it. Peace!
~Music, Sam Cooke – A Change is Gonna Come in honor of Motown Artists contribution to the world for MO-vember rugby nation mugs 2010. Courage to Collaborate And Bee more awesome. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.5.10~
WORLD POLITICS – HILLARY CLINTON, JOHN KEY AND MAORI NEWS IS SO HOT THESE DAYS
Te Karere, a Maori News show in New Zealand, are doing some of the best news in the entertainment biz lately. Here’s that story, everyone is talking about. This version in Te Reo Rangatira (The Language of Chiefs) of New Zealand.
The day Hilllary Clinton touched down in New Zealand, the story aired with a headline: The Most Powerful Women in the World Arrives in New Zealand. This prompted a politician to give a funny aside like the theatricality of a good Shakespeare play, (read that here).
In the top video clip, here’s Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister John Key as Mrs Clinton, gets an official powhiri (Maori welcome).
My favorite part of this footage, is where Hillary presses noses in greeting (it’s called the hongi) symbolizing the breath of life in your nose, mingling with the breath of life in your fellow sisters and brothers.
Equality of life is shared in the warm gesture of manaaki (or hospitality) when “hongi moments” happen, celebrating the meeting of our diverse and shared human presence–is what the intimate gesture symbolizes.
Maori are big on face-to-face talking, greetings, shared communication and presence. This cultural trait, all Kiwis seem to share. If you’re serious, you’ll turn up, is the view – Mrs Clinton did not disappoint. What a woman.
Her “hongi” moment, is exactly like James Cameron‘s Avatar film (photo below), which is where uber-talented James perhaps got the idea from. It’s so surreal to be Maori in Hollywood and watching Hilary (US Secretary of State) go Avatar-Maori with a good hongi session in Middle Earth, Wellington New Zealand. She’s one of US now. That’s also what the hongi means.
Watching it go down in this news clip, I forgot what country I was in. It took 36 hours for the ‘surreal feeling’ to calm down and to readjust back to American life. Lol! *jokes*
[By the way: To see how thorough, personable and informative Prime Minister Key is at updating his people, with transparent communication from his Beehive Parliamentary office, watch this video clip of one of the Kiwi King's regular updates. Good leadership, aye!].
Now, let’s get back to Hillary in the top clip, she’s looking good.
I can’t help but think of smart action partnerships, being the result of US-Kiwi political ties. Green thinking strategies are ahead. I see plenty of fun shared between two showcasing nations – both who love to entertain. A win-win combo.
Update: Fran O’Sullivan of the New Zeland Herald notes how Prime Minister, Mr Key, genuinely slipped up by introducing Mrs Clinton as “President Clinton,” by way of a genuine gaffe. It’s a compliment to Mr Obama that Hillary is so Presidential in her role as US Secretary of State.
Here’s an image of a Maori koru (symbolizing courage in change when facing challenges). The koru spiral (a metaphor of a fern frond’s growing spear tip – new life) is depicted on President Ronald Reagan‘s Hollywood Star, Hollywood Walk of Fame–to reciprocate the spirit of American-Kiwi and Maori-Hawaii relationships, cross-over art and culture, remaining strong between our entertaining nations of diverse and vibrant peoples in world politics.
Again, what a fine Ambassador for her President, Mr Obama and her First Lady, the lovely Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton is and was down in NZ. She rocked the gig.
Bring it on — in the 2010′s from New Zealand and America.
[Presenter: Scotty Morrison, Reporter Roihana Nuri, Executive Producer: "The Most Powerful Woman In The Maori World" Tini Molyneux, for Bronagh Key and Te Karere, TVNZ News. National Standards Education Standards can be sourced here.]
To visit New Zealand yourself and experience the culture – Go Here.
[Images of Wellywood/ Wellington, photographer - David Wall]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.4.10~
HOT PIC – BROWN AND RED BRICKS BUILDING AHEAD WITH INDIA
How do they do that? This is freakin amazin!
Image via Reddit. Janet Frame‘s An Angel At My Table Image courtesy of Little Brown.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA.
A PONTIFICATING KING – OBAMA – LOS ANGELES TIMES – 11.4.10
“Shellacking” due to an energy policy that’s greedy, lustful & feudal?” Yep!
America Today – looks like this, from the front page of the Los Angeles Times – Entertainment Capitol of the World.
The LA Times, paints a picture of A Pontificating American King – in President Barack Obama.
Where did I/We/ Whatevz “f*ck up” – is not a good look, especially for a man whose in the hot throne seat, a burning throne he inherited, only two years ago.
This man needs our support not our lynching tendencies. Lynch pin politics are found in New Zealand. A problem solving nation, we always like to help. Soultions are us. Encouragement is Key. Go Obama! Rock it out brotha. Nothing to lose.
If you want to know what NZ thinks about this, check out this post, for one answer. I like the proven source, where it comes from.
In New Zealand we share everything with our brown people – that way, we don’t get shellacked.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.4.10~
KJ ROCK – ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY MARINES HAKA FOR U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA – 11.3.10
Hilary Clinton’s in New Zealand, so here’s one from the NZ military troops to celebrate the U.S Secretary of States presence in NZ waters, that they protect and serve.
A thought: Milky Bar Kids in New Zealand rock aye?! Men in New Zealand are just brought up culturally aware and nuanced in diverse cultural lore as this video clip represents a picture of. A colorful and vibrant culture is New Zealand.
Here’s the Royal New Zealand Navy doing the haka of New Zealand (Maori warrior war dance) at the Devonport Royal Navel Base in Auckland, The Supercity. As mentioned on this blog before, the haka has been performed as an expression of masculinity and one’s inner spirit of a warrior, for over one thousand years within New Zealand shores. It’s just a part of how we roll as a rugby football playing nation.
The troops of the Kiwi King, John Key, Prime Minister.
Top Pic: New Talent: Kalani Jones
Pic Below: Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock of Hollywood, Ca.
Haka video source: Jordan Samuel Graham – my nephew.
[Image of Chelsea Clinton's Wedding Day, because I cant find the pics of when Chelsea Clinton visited Queenstown, New Zealand from back in the day, so this one will suffice, aye. Question: When will the Obama's pay NZ a visit? We have good fiscal leadership in NZ, well worth a trip down to learn and see the countryside too with the girls. A family vacation?]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.3.10~
HUMOR IN 3D – WHAT 3D GLASSES ARE REALLY FOR
E.M – has this funny pic about how 3D glasses should be used
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.8.10~
December 8, 2010 | Categories: 3D, America, Diversity, Hot Chocolate, Humor, New Zealand, Wellington | Tags: 3D, 3D - Acrobats in Middle Earth, 3D - Monarchs in 3D R US - KiwiS, 3D Film Locations, 3D IT-IP is "Key-We" Heading Towards 2020's, 3D Movie Development Opportunities, A Diverse View, America, Diversity, Hot Chocloate: African American News on Horiwood.Com, Hot Chocolate, Humor, Marketing & Branding, New Zealand, New Zealand Filmmaking, Pop Culture Commentary, Star System - The Art of Wellywood Celebrity, Wellington, Wellywood | 1 Comment »