FROM HOLLYWOOD – PRIVATE JOHN HOWARD, NEW ZEALAND, RIP
“Keeping secrets on our pillow”–Brandon Flowers lyrics, for those who grieve grief’s unquantifiable language in the dark night of the soul.
“As a family, we have been so fortunate to have a son and a brother who has so enriched our lives. To the young men of this country, Jack would want me to say this: Be your own man, do not be afraid to dream and pursue those dreams with quiet determination. Be sincere in your friendships, and keep those friendships in good repair. Stay true to your beliefs. Love your mother,”–the farewell words of Roger Howard on behalf of his family and friends, Anne Scott and daughters Charlotte and Isabella–as Roger laid his son, Private John Howard (Jack) to rest at Wellington’s Cathedral of St Paul in New Zealand’s capitol.
Private Howard was a Kiwi lad serving in the the 3rd Battalion in The Parachute Regiment of the British military, who was ‘killed by American soldiers piloting an American F-18 Hornet fighter, during a friendly fire incident in Helmand, Afghanistan,’ reports the UK Daily Telegraph.
Two Maori warriors carrying taiaha (traditional Maori wooden weapons of the art of Mau Rakau hand combat martial arts) ‘accompanied Private Howard’s coffin along with seven of his fellow British soldiers.’ In very poignant imagery, his coffin was draped in a Union Jack flag and with a traditional hand woven Maori cloak as he was carried into the cathedral, with his family following behind.’
His family are such big-hearted people to be able to forgive the futility of Private Howard’s loss of life in Afghanistan’s war effort. The cost of war to America and allies has been shared by many in common bonds of brotherhood in the hope of peace in the world.
New Zealand is a small nation. News like this rocks New Zealand culture to the heart, deeply. We don’t have all that many people to lose, our nation is small. One life lost is like 10,000 to us. It feels like as a Kiwi looking at New Zealand from afar in California that I’ve unexpectedly found myself crying about 29 lost miners gone too soon recently and now Private John gone too soon as well.
Such news makes any Kiwi cry. Blokes included. We’re just wired that way to fellow Kiwis in a deep and committed sense of place and Life’s purpose in the world. I’m tired of crying for New Zealand blokes lately in Hollywood, whose lives have been lost too early in the pursuit of the earth’s energy resources or a real sense of Peace too in the world transcending war. Accidents resulting in loss of lives in both cases, where unexpectedly men weren’t safe. Sorry, but I am. It’s just gut wrenching and we all share their loss and contributions to our culture.
RIP Private Howard. Sending kind healing thoughts and prayers for the Howard-Scott families this Christmas. A Kiwi brother of Commonwealth and Am-Kiwi community gone way too soon. What a beautiful send off for this Kiwi lad as these pictures show. John’s grandmother Elizabeth Scott looked very regal at the helm of her family.
Haere ra ou tatou teina–a symbol of a younger brother’s vital potential– to us all. Hollywood salutes your blood father’s spoken symbolic words of Peace in the Spirit of shared bronaaki culture (fellowship) that is Our Protector, stronger than war’s unquenchable grave and the proven Victor over death itself. Mauri ‘Ola Tatou. Ka Tu Te Whare Ka Ora o Te Ao i te taha o Te Awa Ora, Mo Ake Tonu.
In the spirit of global brotherhood that surpasses any difference of race, geographical borders, religious or cultural boundaries too in our shared humanity of melanin fused with spirit on this same shared earth we love, here’s the group Candella singing Brandon Flowers song Crossfire in honor of Private Howard’s life of service for the world. The song is offered from Hollywood today in the hope of Peace’s diverse rule and expressions in hearts and minds universally as an intelligent way forward of all leaders of future generations who wear Wisdom’s timeless glasses to see the best paths forward for children to walk in freely. Children who as global friends, consider each other equally and who build good friendships across all cultures of the world, as their open hearts so choose to as our guides, teachers and leaders without fear. [Thanks Candella & Brandon Flowers]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.22.10~
DEMOCRACY IN HOLLYWOOD BLOGGING AS FRESH CULTURE BEING SHARED AND TEN SOCIAL MEDIA SHARED POSTS – 12.22.10
Angelina Jolie is always a face people like to share via social media. And Shania Twain proves that maturity can only occur with forgiveness–the sweetest revenge of all is growing up in love–forgiving people who try and mangle that desire to love and be loved in us all, is key as Shania proves! She is a total winner.
In addition to Angelina Jolie being the most shared face and name of this blog in Hollywood across 2010 here’s some other thoughts too.
The thing about Hollywood blogging and working at it 24-7 in Hollywood is that surprising discoveries occur daily. Like the fact that all these names and topics are being bumped on via social media too right now creating culture that’s fresh in the USA with every fresh bump of information transparently shared freely. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe that is clear evidence of democracy at large. Love it. I was just about to get a rubber stamp made with my signature on it to give away to Republican politicians for Christmas (each stamp gift boxed wrapped with a dog collar made for British bull dogs) as their fantasy gift to affirm their whole gig as puppets of a political system. In their gig they sit in The House in 2011, waiting to be bullies like greedy-gutted ankle biting, annoying dogs, who are told to not stop barking until ink has been signed from a half black man’s hand that they rudely and publically disrespect and despise (the current look of US politics has been reduced to that look, sadly–evidence of racism still needing its head lopped off before it spreads and poisons a new generation of Americans again). However, because democracy is still alive and well as these shared posts prove, I don’t have to get the rubber stamp now.
Maybe gifting some boxing gloves to Barack instead would be a far more wiser, cost-saving investment. Keeping those gloves on his hands at all times, instead of signing Republican bills in the house–would be far more entertaining and just.
I will be doing more Pro-Obama news posts though just to give you the prior heads up in advance– every time America’s President stands up for himself in 2011.
For sharing joy with others as fresh culture via social media, you all inspire. Go you guys and girls!
1. Hugh Laurie on playing a doctor who fakes an American accent
2. Twitter pic: Casey Aldridge & Jamie Lynn Spears
3. Guitars by Cody Simpson & Lindsay Lohan
4. A Maori Rolling Stone & the cast of True Blood
5. Michelle Obama & the Obama girls are efficient on vay-cays in Hawaii
6. Did Miley Cyrus get a new tattoo in New Orleans?
8. Angelina Jolie Humor – for Hollywood movie marketing
9. Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez are friends
10. Ink – A Union Jack tattoo by Tom Hardy & P-Nut
My favorite one: RED VELVET CUPCAKES MADE WITH NEW ZEALAND BUTTER ARE DELICIOUS
As sharing is caring in an age of digital transparency many people like Joe Biden pretend to resent but I like and think is healthy and inevitable at this point in the world, check out the following blogs and websites who do what I do too, after the leap. Fun! 
JEWS BEING BADLY BEHAVED IN HOLLYWOOD 2010
Alright, I’ve just published the Simon Wiesenthal Center‘s list for 2010 via The Jewish Journal that lists who has been labelled the Ten Most Anti-Semitic people for 2010. Go here to read that very upfront and out in the open piece of literature. Shocking!
The list was prefaced by Rabbi Marvin Hier stating: “Never before, in recent memory, has the Simon Wiesenthal Center seen such a proliferation of anti-Semitism going mainstream,” said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Center adding that “Our list of top ten anti-Semitic slurs runs the gamut of well-known personalities including journalists, government officials, celebrities, a prominent film director, and academics.”
Many of the quotes are classic Jewish conspiracy theories updated to reflect current anxieties, blaming the control of the media and banking sectors on Jews. “Unfortunately, our list shows that anti-Semitic canards normally thought to belong to the lunatic fringe have, in fact, been bought into by major elements of Western society,” Rabbi Hier concluded.”
As we live in a mature cultural world, here are three things that Jews did to me personally when deciding to behave badly this year. I post these on Horiwood.Com as an open sign of fairness and maturity in America–denoting how Jewish people like everyone else need to grow up too in love concerning people who are not Jewish. Let’s put this under the topic of JEWISH GOSSIP for a laugh:
1. Once I posted a blog post about British supermodel Kate Moss attending a Hope for Charity event in support of innocent Palestinian children caught up in the cross-fire of war in Gaza. This post about Kate supporting innocents in war–somehow got this blog blacklisted on The Anti-Semitic website.
2. This year a Jewish boss who did not get his way with me screamed at me at the top of their lungs: “You are nothing but an Adolph Hilter.” It was not pretty.
3. Something Jewish people have said to me personally in Hollywood at least five times this year, when monetary deals didn’t go their way as they had rather forcefully wanted to: “Why don’t you go back to New Zealand?”
Yep, those comments were hurtful and at the time I would describe their intention as being “to hurt” and framed as being so manipulatively racist too! As I have been accused of being racist on this blog many times in the past–when I don’t deliberately try to be, I told each of these people who had offended me on the spot why I thought they were racist with such comments to their face and forgave them instantly too. Only way to go!
There’s a lot of work to be done by all people in Hollywood –Jewish people and gentiles alike.
Happy Holidays everyone! Let’s keep growing, loving, forgiving, extending courtesy and mutual respect across cultures within and outside of Jewish communities all year round and everyday. Especially, here in America. Despite these minor hiccups with some members of the Jewish community, (no community is perfect) I remain Pro-Jewish as a global citizen of the world, the way I was raised to be by Kiwi parents who are Pro-Jewish too.
It’s flattering that Jewish people feel comfortable and safe in my presence to be badly behaved. After all, that’s what friends are for. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.16.10~
MEL GIBSON DID NOT MAKE TOP 10 ANTI-SEMITIC LIST OF SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER
Mel Gibson Movie News: “The Jodie Foster-directed flick Beaver about a man (Gibson) who befriends a hand puppet will have a limited opening on March 23 with an expanded release on April 8. The movie, which also costars Foster and Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), has been in limbo because of, well, you know—Gibson’s very messy and trouble-filled personal life. Understatement of 2010!
Mel Gibson and Anti-Semitic News: This year Mel Gibson kept Hollywood tabloids going playing the ‘scary villain’ construct of Tinsel Town for over half of the year. This role is important (believe it or not) as if there is no villain, than angels of Los Angeles look pretty dull and ordinary. Someone going ‘dark and rogue-ish’ spices up their glow. A villain makes everyone else appear shinier and brighter than they actually are. In playing the scary man of Hollywood this year, Mel was dubbed a wife beater, child neglector, anti-semetic and many other nasty names in a year that saw Gibson hit Twitter’s 4th most tweeted name of the year in the world.
However, when it comes to anti-semtic quotes of the year, experts on the topic, namely The Simon Wiesenthal Center don’t give Mel a top ten ranked spot this year on their list of Jew hurtful comments. Who made their list instead? The Jewish Journal breaks down the list of all of these people behaving badly:
1. Helen Thomas: Former UPI White House Correspondent: “Jews should get the hell out of Palestine. They should go home to Germany, Poland, America and everywhere else.” -May 2010 “Congress, the White House, Hollywood and Wall Street are owned by Zionists. They put their money where their mouth is.” -December 2010
2. Oliver Stone: Hollywood film director: “Hitler is an easy scapegoat throughout history and it’s been used cheaply. He’s the product of a series of actions. It’s cause and effect.” -January 2010. “Hitler did far more damage to the Russians than the Jewish people,” [there is a greater focus on the Holocaust than on Russian suffering because of] “the Jewish domination of the media.” “There’s a major lobby in the United States,” “They are hard workers. They stay on top of every comment, the most powerful lobby in Washington. Israel has f***** up U.S. foreign policy for years.” -July 2010 (more…)
ENTITLED CHELSEA HANDLER NEEDS TO TRAVEL TO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, ADOPT OR BREED ABOUT NOW, THAT’S ALL HER ANGELINA JOLIE DISSING RANTS REVEAL
The wikileaks scandal taught us that it is writers typed words that are often more important than the faces that present this ‘truth’ or information.
Up until now, I have liked Chelsea Handler, the Jewish-Catholic girl from New Jersey who slept with her boss, to keep her job on E! Entertainment and rise as a talk show star of Los Angeles of younger funnier women on the block in California.
Handler’s claim to fame is saying the word gay as many times as she possibly can in one taped episode of her talk show. She actually doesn’t have a real gay brother, but she pretends she’s the sister of people who identify with being gay. So many American girls are famous with the gay word and a bottle of peroxide it all gets a bit thin when so many compete against each other as a base to fame with this tactic.
Basically, this is Chelsea’s gig. She dyes her hair blonde and then says “gay, gay, gay” a million times, to be funny and famous. It’s so thin to me, her whole schtick. Normally though, she’s quite funny with her jokes gay writers have written for her. I have laughed at her on many occasion–because Chelsea’s writers are kind of ridiculous with Chelsea as their puppet face. I always look at the writing, whether that be in entertainment, politics or business–not the face presenting the information alone. Writers are funnier and just as authentic to me, than presenters.
Now Handler is dissing Angelina Jolie in “supposed to be comedy live shows” (more…)
BEING OPEN TO CRITICISM – VENOM VS MANUKA HONEY BOXING VIA BLOGGING
[Pic: What a snake does. Bites with venom + steal bird's eggs. Via Michael K]
True fact: I am from New Zealand. Manuka honey, the honey scientists posit is one of the best in the world, is specific to New Zealand. Manuka honey is a symbol I associate all New Zealanders to. In my own deluded head, on a good day, it also defines me, for it’s known healing properties. The Chinese love it.
Criticism on a blog: To be honest when you’re a blogger, you’re often the venting ground of people’s frustrations. To every 20 comments given, most will be down-putting, 1 will be encouraging. As a blogger, you learn – that when people go through tough times, they look to someone or something to vent on.
An entertainment blog, which provides surreal escapist news on celebrities (all lottery winners in Hollywood’s fame game, a select handfull of people only), make people feel inspired in some strange way. Yet the flip side is, when they realize that a normal person’s life, isn’t going to be like the celebrity post they’ve just read – they then flip out, and their disappointment? Normal frustrations? manifest themselves in awful comments aimed at ‘you’, or, the blog persona of a blog. It doesn’t hurt much, because as a blogger, that’s just the persona. Not me. But I do get bored reading so many negative comments. Just saying.
Most of these I delete, so you don’t have to read them. But, yeah – they kill my creativity – and optimism sorta - spoonfull by spoonfull. In such an environment, it’s hard to be open to any criticism. Still a weakness, I am improving on.
[Pic: Manuka Honey lip balm via Silver Fern NZ + Muhammad Ali boxing tribute via Full Issue]
JUSTIN GASTON IS HORIWOOD.COM’S MAN OF THE MONTH – OCTOBER 2010
In August and September, no person could beat Justin Gaston in popularity, ratings, interest on this Hollywood website. That probably deserves a new section, like Man of The Month, in Hollywood.
Justin Gaston is a young man, who just keeps on going – working away on his American dream.
He’s known the roller coaster ride of fame’s highs and lows, but his guitar and his ability to tweet Psalmists lyrics, has got Justin through.
My favorite recently is: “blessed are the feet of those who bring good news.” Or, be a good messanger of good things. That’s a daily battle in Hollywood to extremes because of the nature of the city, so this kid is doing okay balancing out the extremes of a big entertainment city.
Whether it be modeling underwear, taking his kilt off to save animals, enduring public celebrity relationship heat and a break up, or strumming his guitar, recording an album or reading his bible; Gaston is a true Hollywood story that most people in L.A and internationally too, can all seem to relate to.
I follow this kid on twitter. He’s as moody as sh*t, but don’t blame the player, blame the game and gauge the spirit, of that player in the game. This kid has spirit. And what I know of this city, people with spirit, are much needed within ‘the game.’ They are the gameplayers They shape the game, for good or bad. Already an American leader, gauging by daily votes alone, this man’s a good one.
Cheers ears. Keep songwriting, breathing and being. Thanks for all the content and ratings on this blog you’ve shared with Horiwood.Com readers, many also your fans. Always look Up. Always forgive. Believe in reconciliation where love matters. And … Always Rock on!
[Image courtesy of Twit Pic]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.4.10~
ROSES OF HEALING IN A REFLECTING POOL OF REMEMBRANCE- SEPTEMBER 11 2010
Victims of 9-11 were remembered by their loved ones today, as family and friends gathered before a reflecting pool cleansing away afresh the inane terrorist attacks of 9/11. Roses and flowers were carried to drop into the reflecting pool.
Sad and yet a poignant picture of powerful healing.
[Image courtesy of Chris Hondros for Getty Images]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.11.10~
REAL LIFE BLOGGING: LIFE AS WE KNOW IT
Every now and again, I kid myself that I can put down my bowl of light-hearted cereal, bloggers are prone to enjoying late at night, and do a blog post that really matters. More salt of the earth and sea, than sugar. This is one of those.
LIFE. What is it and its meaning?
According to Premiere-In-A-Box, a red carpet entertainment events company, life is:
LABOR
INFLUENCE
FORGIVENESS
EXPERIENCE
These four concepts, all used collectively together like a symphony, are the four key notes to play for anyone who desires to rise up and be (as the events company says) “an Ambassador of Compassion to help ease the suffering of others and lift up their community.”
I do believe Premiere In A Box has one of America’s best definitions of L.I.F.E – spent on and off the red carpet of Hollywood you could ever witness, experience, feel or become a part of yourself–especially at this point in U.S history.
And undoubtedly, they DEFINITELY have the HOTTEST DEFINITION of the “F” word going on in the entertainment game too. They’re too fierce!
Forgiveness determines our fruitfulness in L.I.F.E. Period. Thanks p.i.a.b. Let’s go meaningful and life-infused events from California. Up!
[Image of Whale courtesy of Graeme Ellis Photography & Website as seen in a West Hollywood store window & Dolphins graphics imagery and photography via Zastavki for 'water-carpet' stars of Earth Life animals in stills too, today].
Alright, back to the late night cereal of a Hollywood celebrity blogger, then.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, California USA. 9.8.10~
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…)
OP-ED BREAKING NEWS: CONTENTMENT FOR RESENTMENT RECOVERY
Dear LA Times Readers, with Love:
Here’s the definition of contentment, the remedy of resentment, the latter being the thief of life’s fullness. Let’s live in contentment.
Dictionary Definitions provided for us by Dictionary Reference: as word medicine for our United States of Recovery.
Contentment:
the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind.
Archaic . the act of making contentedly satisfied.
“A state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be. It is opposed to envy, avarice, anxiety, ambition and repining. It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence, the greatness of divine promises and our own unworthiness of rest and peace hereafter, that contentment provides in a state of grace.”
Just a spoon full of sugar then. :)
Love that definition.
Noun Origin: mid-15c., from Fr. contentment , from contenter
For the writer/ editor who composed the compelling piece on resentment recovery yesterday for all Californians to read. Thank you. If we live in contentment and not resentment, would love win out over war? Here’s music artists Beyonce, U2 and Eric Clapton with their art of live music today as entertainment for reflection on that question.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.26.10~
ELIN NORDEGREN BUILDS A BRIDGE OF FORGIVENESS
There’s only one woman American housewives want to see today. That lady is Elin Nordegren.
She covers People Magazine, and even the L.A Times website, cuts in Nordegren’s magazine cover today into their news mix. Gosh, they are looking, like a celebrity blog.
Says Elin:
“I have been through the stages of disbelief and shock, to anger and ultimately grief over the loss of the family I so badly wanted for my children,” she says. “I also feel stronger than I ever have. I have confidence in my beliefs, my decisions and myself.”
Basically, Elin Nordegrin built a bridge of forgiveness . . . and got over it. Smart.
[Image and quote sourced by Cover Awards. Thank you. Image features Usher with his kids.]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.25.10~
SIDNEY POITIER ON FORGIVENESS
In his book, The Measure of a Man, Hollywood legend Sidney Poiter says:
“Forgiveness works two ways, in most instances. People have to forgive themselves too… That should be a sacred process.
And somewhere along the line, they’re going to realize that there’s no way for them to live with the requirements of their rage, with the requirements of their hatred. They have to find peace, because they won’t get peace from rerunning those emotions.”
This quote sourced from Ioana Poppa. I have to say Maoris have never been crash hot at this one, but Sidney gives good food for thought this weekend.
To purchase Sidney’s wise book via Oprah‘s book club, go here. For study questions from Oprah about this book, from the man who grew up dreaming of being a cowboy in Hollywood go here.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.7.2010~
HOPE: WITH NELSEN MANDELA AND CHARLIZE THERON
With President Barack Obama slumping in the popularity polls this week, I thought I’d look to the nation of South Africa to lift America’s leadership spirit.
South Africa had a horrid past to overcome. Racism and greed was the country’s biggest demon to move on past into a new world and a better future. It was once full of unspeakable hatred. But let’s talk about America today.
President Obama has inherited the worst deficit of any president in US history as a result of the last government’s greed. He also has been a target of racism this week too, so perhaps South Africa’s ability to rise up with redeeming hope provides an answer forward for America.
–images by Oscar winning actress, Charlize Theron’s Vogue Magazine shoot.
–words by Nelsen Mandela.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear”–Nelsen Mandela
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more left to climb”–Nelsen Mandela
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”–Nelsen Mandela
“It’s always impossible until it’s done”–Nelsen Mandela
Good luck Mr Obama. We have every confidence in you to balance the books and get it right.
