QUALITY BUTTER: WASHINGTON’S FOREIGN AFFAIRS DIPLOMATS LIKE PHIL GOFF OF NEW ZEALAND, THEY CALL HIM “HARD-CHARGING”
[Phill Goff is pictured here with Auckland Central political candidate Jacinda Arden]
Guess what? The best cupcakes in the world are made with golden creamy, New Zealand butter.
Better Butter Movement News: Wikileaks documents reveal that America’s top foreign affairs diplomats like New Zealander Phil Goff and his brand and style of political leadership. The leaked cables handed to The Sunday Star Times reveal these views from America about Mr Goff, the leader of the Labor Party of New Zealand:
Mr Goff has military like precision when parachute jumping:
The cable talked of Phil Goff doing a parachute jump from a military plane. As the American report goes, Mr Goff logically debated for the jump over water option because it required less training. The US also liked the way he argued the amount of training down to two hours, proving he is a good time manager and negotiator–while not valuing his own sense of importance over tasks at hand.
Goff is “very focused on the job at hand,” American diplomats found via the wikileaks docs being shared with the world. “This sums up his working style in a nutshell.”
In other Kiwi-American trade deals news: Wikileaks reveals (via silobreaker) that a trading partnership between the US and New Zealand may not be as “El Dorado” lucrative or worth “billions and billions to New Zealand’s commercial sector” as some political leaders have claimed in the past in more recent New Zealand media, that may have given a perception of too high expectations– than these wikileaks US diplomatic communications reveal. 
68th GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS PRESS RELEASE
THE 68TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS
HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION
2011 Golden Globe Awards
For the year ended December 31, 2010
Nominations Press Release
- BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
- BLACK SWAN
Protozoa Pictures & Cross Creek Pictures & Phoenix; Fox Searchlight Pictures - THE FIGHTER
Paramount Pictures and Relativity Media; Paramount Pictures and Relativity Media - INCEPTION
Warner Bros. Pictures UK LTD.; Warner Bros. Pictures - THE KING’S SPEECH
See-Saw Films and Bedlam Productions; The Weinstein Company - THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing (more…)
- BLACK SWAN
HEKIA PARATA’S APPOINTMENT AS A CABINET MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT IS CELEBRATED IN HOLLYWOOD – 12.6.10
[Blue Balloons as photographed by MP Katrina Shanks/Michael Woodhouse Media Group]
Hollywood California USA (Monday 6th December 2010)–A toast was raised in Hollywood today at West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont at the announcement that Hekia Parata has been promoted as a Cabinet Minister of New Zealand.
Ms. Parata becomes Ethnic Affair’s and Women’s Affairs Minister. She also picks up associate minister roles for Accident Compensation Commission, Energy and Resources and for The Community and Voluntary Sector. The latter is a new role and was requested by Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia, who said she did not need an associate for disability issues any more.
Prime Minister of New Zealand, last sighted wearing a Muhammad Ali boxing silky robe in a charity auction for burns sufferers, Mr John Key, announced Ms Parata’s appointment at a post Cabinet press conference today, saying he believed she was the most deserving of the position.
“When it comes to Hekia, I think she’s extraordinarily talented,” he said.
At the news Hekia Parata said, “All New Zealanders understand these have been challenging times both domestically, and internationally. The National-led Government continues to face up to those challenges on behalf of all Kiwis. I look forward to doing my part to help all our communities realise the dream of a brighter future.”
“I look forward to getting my feet under the desk and learning all I can about the portfolios the Prime Minister has entrusted me with. I’m excited about the prospect of serving the public of New Zealand in a Ministerial role and the new challenges this will bring.”
Hollywood Maori-Kiwi blogger Sam Cruickshank met with Hollywood friends to toast one glass of Veuve Clicquot in honor of Ms. Parata’s very timely appointment on the global stage of politics. Her leadership will be very welcomed in California, where Maori-Kiwi filmmakers of Ms. Parata’s tribe of Ngati Porou have presented films to the world that have been Oscar nominated twice in Los Angeles cinematic history and body of work to date.
Hekia’s skills in diplomacy are an asset to New Zealand’s growth potential that are key to growing the New Zealand economy in win-win diplomatic partnerships of the future. In particular Parata’s destiny to lead the charge on many human rights issues affecting women on a global stage is something to watch as her international political career unfolds along with her New Zealand cabinet portfolios.
Her capacity of heart is similar to an advocate of oppressed peoples of the world, on the scale of an Angelina Jolie, if Ms. Parata is allowed to and also funded to by the New Zealand people to express that from New Zealand for the world.
Her gifts of noho-puku (EQ) instinctual intelligence and their full and free expression to be vibrant and creative make Ms. Parata exceptionally talented and exciting as a political leader serving New Zealand and The World with her gifts.
She’s known in Hollywood as a global star of politics already.
ENDS
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.5.10~
CAROLYN COLE OF LA TIMES DOES AMAZING WAR PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE
If I was to ever covet anyone’s career, it would probably be someone artistic like LA Times photographer Carolyn Cole. She sees the faces of war for a job, yet her artistic take on her war coverage – really is modern art. I like her work a lot. Here’s an image from her body of work. The Iraq War as posted byJerome Adamstein (Originally posted On: 3:43 p.m. | August 18, 2010).
In the days leading up to war, many Iraqis didn’t believe they would ever see an American soldier in Baghdad. They marched in support of their longtime leader, Saddam Hussein, who they trusted would see them through. Gloom filled the sky as bombs rained down and the number of dead and wounded grew by the day.
She’s the best. Thanks Carolyn for all of the great coverage as an America foreign press, photo-journalist, serving abroad. You put us in the picture by bringing the world to us. Thank you.
Carolyn Cole’s work is always a reminder that World Peace in the Middle East will always be our goal in the world towards sustainability being a real concept in a modern world.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.16.10~
THE KIWI MAN WARNS OF CURRENCY WARS AHEAD
[Sir Richard Branson is pictured here with John Key]
Economic News Guest Post:
Reports John Armstrong from Yokohama Japan: ‘Just two days after lecturing the Japanese on New Zealand’s bottom-line conditions for free trade talks, John Key, (guy on the left, above) New Zealand’s Prime Minister has waded into the currency wars and told fellow Apec leaders:
- we must tackle the emerging crisis.
- warned of the depreciating United States dollar
- foresaw possible retaliation to the depreciation
- predicted the vibe: “negative for growth and negative for this region”.
- reiterated the G-20 summits call to avoid: “competitive devaluation”
- G-20 summit would come up with “indicative guidelines” to tackle trade imbalances affecting world growth.
- Predicted: escalating tensions over foreign exchange policies could threaten economic growth.
- Said: “If we don’t get this right, currency wars” will ensue
- “retaliatory action is a minus for growth”
- “unintended consequences thwarts integration in the region.” ENDS.
Fran O’Sullivan also writes a good article on where Mr Obama could head from a New Zealand perspective too.
Some thoughts on the above: (more…)
HILLARY CLINTON BELIEVES A WOMAN PRESIDENT IS POSSIBLE
Hillary Clinton is in the hot seat, as all eyes turned to Mrs Clinton, to quiz her about any future plans to run for the Presidency in America’s future, 2012 or 2016.
This report via The Los Angeles Times an hour ago, that came from Chicago Tribune Mobile News, as originally sourced via the Canadian-Kiwi owned TV3 News, Christchurch New Zealand, according to Newsroom America.Com.
Highlights are: On does she believe the US is ready for a woman President: “Well, I hope so,” she said. “Not me, but it will be someone.”
On travel being politically refreshing: “It is nice coming to countries that have already proven that they can elect a woman to the highest governing positions that they have in their systems.”
On the fickle nature of politics for a president at midterm: “Well, of course, we have a historical pattern of this happening, that the party of the president loses seats in the first midterm election… That doesn’t make it any easier and it’s deeply saddening to see good people lose their congressional seats… Certainly I know that, as the president said in his press conference, he’s going to work hard the next two years to build a strong relationship with the Congress, with the new leaders to get things done for our country.”
On affirming President Obama’s Role to Date: “[The President has made] essential [decisions] for the well-being of the American people, even though they “may not have been popular… These things take a while for people to feel them, and I think the president recognizes that we’re just all going to have to redouble our efforts,” she said.
My commentary follows: (more…)
BROWN CLAIMS VICTORY – LOS ANGELES TIMES FRONT PAGE NEWS – 11.3.10
HEADLINE NEWS: BROWN CLAIMS VICTORY: GOP Sweeps Into Control of House. Political balance shifts to the right.
Yes, this man really is 72 years of age. Still ‘fresh faced’ for politics. So California!
As I blog about emerging stars of Polynesian CoCo-licious, brown persuasion, like Kalani Jones from here in Hollywood, I am staring at this photo of the front page of the Los Angeles Times, with this photo caption.
Historic Night: [Wearing a brown suit] Jerry Brown gets a hug from his wife, Anne Gust as he arrives at the Fox Theater in Oakland on election night. He called for an end to the divisiveness that has torn Sacramento and Washington.
Brown in the Haus on a global political stage. Quite prophetic really in our United States of global Brown.
The world turns and changes again — as a new layer and level of leadership emerges worldwide. Think Brown. Think Green to win.
Jerry Brown to 49.4% of the vote, over, Meg Whitman‘s 45.7% for Brown’s California Governor win. His news, after the jump.
[Maori tee shirt - for brown Kiwis and a Brown Parliament of Owls, USA]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.3.10~
ATHEISTS ROLE IN FACILITATING PEACE IN THE MEDIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Writes Princeton‘s online dictionary when defining the word Atheist:
“1. someone who denies the existence of god.
2. related to or characterized by or given to atheism; “atheist leanings”
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
This is not to be confused with, my buddy Mark Baker from form classes favorite rock band ever. That being, Aetheist, a band who according to wikipedia is defined as: “Atheist is a technical death metal band from Florida, founded in 1984, whose music combined metal riffs with subtle latin music arrangements and jazz fusion.”
Eclectic. They’d rock today. That was ‘unusual’ back then, mixing the American heritage traditions of jazz into the hard core, metal music mix. Props to Atheist for having the courage to grow a genre of musical thinkers.
And neither is being an atheist to be confused with a theater play either. That play being: “The Atheist is written by Irish born playwright, Ronan Noone. His previous plays include The Lepers of Baile Baiste (Critics Pick, Boston Globe) and The Blowin of Baile Gall which had its Off-Broadway debut, produced by Gabriel Byrne, at the Irish Arts Center in New York in 2005.” [Source, wiki too].
I am writing about atheism today and atheists (practitioners of atheism, some active, others just choosing to be atheist for no apparent reason other than having an aversion to gatherings and crowds, or getting up early or dressing in formal clothes too on their Sundays–fair enough), because of what Washington is trying to achieve in the Mid-East, with people of different religions and cultures dialoguing–Atheism needs a bit of talking about from Hollywood. (more…)
COURAGE TO LOVE A NOVEL OF LOVE AND COMPASSION SET IN THE MIDDLE-EAST BY ROBERT ELLIS
A post for journalists to tweet, facebook send, email, share, digg and pass on to other journalists, friends in government, politics, and leaders of community worldwide:
With all of the peace talk going on in Washington between key leaders of America and the Middle East (President Obama, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Co), here’s more about a timely novel called Courage to Love by Robert Ellis that all serious journalists in the media could benefit from reading and commenting on.
I know on this blog, you’re very receptive to the novel’s message of love between centuries old enemies, who fall for each other as their love arose as they allowed the thorns of hatred in their fiercely socialized egos, to be fall away as the young hero and heroine transcend the socially prescribed behaviors of war, in this tale. Here’s words from the author.
“Courage to Love was written to make enemies friends. I am not naive enough to believe one love story can solve world problems – except for the fact that it solved this author’s problems with the world.
“The sleeping knowledge in this book needs to be told to each new generation to free them to make up their own minds about life.
“As I listened to the climax (more…)
OIL SLICKED KIDS – WEST HOLLYWOOD 9.2.10
Oil slicks aren’t just found along the coast of Florida. They also occur in West Hollywood and Hollywood too. Like a cross worn as oil on young peoples’ tattoo-ed backs.
With even the President, Mr Obama still yet to address a job crises within the US, in this economy, how else do many American kids pay the rent?
Such a story would be good, hard hitting journalism in America. Much of what you see reported on, is ‘distraction’ from the real issues at hand for many Young People in the USA. News stories are often written in a voice, that isn’t that of American young people, or the issues they face in their America today.
Thank goodness young people in America are polite, otherwise there would be an uprising of sorts until leaders really got their issues they are faced with each day and had the courage to actually address them. In real terms.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.3.10~
MAORI FOREIGN PRESS HOT MEDIA PICKS: CHRIS NOLAN FILMMAKING AND THE ARAB PERSPECTIVE – 8.19.10
As a foreign press journalist living in Los Angeles, here’s some important media being produced within America that floats my boat today–both making a statement about worthy Hollywood filmmaking innovation and providing balanced journalistic perspective–on an Arab and Palestinian perspective concerning the world and USA’s diplomatic relations concerning Peace:
1. Film Comment Magazine spotlights Chris Nolan‘s latest attempt at innovative dream storytelling.
2. Journal of Democracy goes with the lead story: Afghanistan & Iraq, Taking Stock with verbage intelligently provided by Zalmay Khalizad, Scott Worden and Adeed Dawisha.
3. Bill from Creative Screenwriting Magazine gets in on the Chris Nolan writers act, running a cover story that posits: The Architect of Dreams: Invading Christopher Nolan’s Mind to Steal the Secrets of Inception. I have news for you Bill–there’s always plenty more, where that came from, from a true creative writer! ;)
4. The Journal of Palestine Studies perhaps provides the gutsiest humanitarian Middle East commentary this month with these stories: The New Ethical Code of the Israeli Military and the War on Gaza by Muhammad Ali Khalidi; The Polarization of the Palestinian Political Field by Jamil Halal; Special Document by Colonel Philip J. Dermer – Report on US Peacemaking and the West Bank US Security Mission; Interview: Mohammad Mustafa –The Head of The Palestinian Investment Fund Talks about the Palestinian Economy; U.S Congressional Monitor: 111th Congress: January to December 2009.
5. Madeleine Allbright is the center-piece of American Style Magazine‘s focus on jewelry tastes of American leaders who matter. Alluding that Madeline is culturally nuanced by choosing to run with a Beyonce/ Michelle Obama Queen Bee reference tribute. Madeline has fine tastes and is just so cute.
6. Courage to Love, a novel by the author Robert Ellis, with a glowing review by Mouhammad Mustafa inside its distinguished book cover, for tolerance towards difference, transcending the disease of war’s hatred in the Middle East and in furthering love’s ability to further World Peace.
~ICU. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.19.10~
IMAM HOLLYWOOD NEWS: FLASHBACK, THE RETURN OF MR SHATA, 8.16.10
“Religion is not a piece of clothing that you change,” Imam Shata once said after turning away an Ecuadorean immigrant who sought to convert for her Syrian husband. “I don’t want someone coming to Islam tonight and leaving it in the morning… “Here you don’t know what will solve a problem,” he said. “It’s about looking for a key.”–Imam Shata being more ferosh than Lady Gaga selling a merch tee shirt in her concerts. Too real.
And if Imam Shata’s challenge to us is to provide a key, than Peace is my key I choose to put on the table for this challenge. Hence this post. Courage to be real, and love.
[Images of Imam Shata, courtesy of Redashata, Inside Socal]
Kia ora all. In light of President Obama‘s blessing of a mosque building as a symbol of tolerance, forgiveness and love of the American people towards Islamist nations, at site Ground Zero in NYC post 9-11′s recovery and rebuilding effort of trust and hope, I decided as a Maori whose blessed with a foreign press pass in the USA, to honor the President’s wisdom, on a rather controversial (needlessly matter).
I say this in the light of the simple fact, that we are our own worst enemies ourselves, in most cases, more often than not, it is never ‘the other’ (a fabrication of what we deny ourselves in the blindness of delusions of fame) who we’ve never talked to, said hello to, invited for dinner at our tables in vintage Sidney Poitier styles, or even know how to say hello to, in their own language–that surprisingly isn’t our own. That’s why people who speak Arabic, even many who are of Muslim faith are exciting, because they offer a different perspective–as the other children of Abraham too.
