PEOPLE WHO JUST GOT COOLER THIS CHRISTMAS
REFORMED HEROIN ADDICT HELEN BAYLOR, SINGS ALL OF ME, FOR CHRISTMAS 2010
“Mould me in your hands, into a vessel you can use”–song lyrics, the incomparable Helen Baylor
At this minute in Hollywood, a certain malpracticing ‘doctor’ has been accusing a certain A-Listed actress of being a non-reformed and current heroin addict, for his own try hard publicity. This woman has children. And he’s doing this at Christmas time. What a raping grinch!
This is what a real reformed heroin addict does look like. Drug addiction is a disease like any other that is nothing to be proud of or ashamed of either. It’s just something that some good people are or have been afflicted by. Many people in Hollywood, New York and Australia are afflicted by heroine addiction.
This real reformed heroine addict (above) is so beautiful on the inside. Her name is Helen Baylor and for our West Hollywood Christmas Special, Helen sings All of Me live, because in her life, she credits overcoming heroin dependancy on her faith in God. In this song she offers up her life as a broken gift, full of the good, the bad and the plain ugly facts of her life. So powerful! Ms. Baylor makes me bawl my face off when she sings. If you hear her life story, you’ll bawl your face off too. Yet Helen ‘aint ever graced a cover of a tabloid or a visible-to-all magazine. Why is that I wonder? She’s a total winner.
I love her. Stars don’t get more real than Helen Baylor this Christmas. Her story belongs in a future Hollywood film. Helen Baylor’s life is the freaking Christmas story. No one can deny Helen her Christmas story. If you tried, she’d sing you out of the ball park. Go lady! Sing the Christmas blues. Merry Christmas people, especially ya’ll in West Hollywood. This year we are celebrating grinch-freeness in our lives at Christmas.
We are celebrating living lives beyond lies and falsity too. 2011′s hot American goal. It’s actually a miracle many of us are even having a Christmas this year and that we are choosing to. Truly, it is. We overcame a lot this year in two years of the most hideous economy ever, where we still watched the greedy get greedier and act like spoiled children, more uglier to me than heroine addicts are, wanting more so blatantly. That stuff was sick! Average people perhaps like ourselves all got a bit thinner and came out on top this year, still smiling. Wow! How cool are all you people? You’re the best! Let’s keep at it then. Grinch-kicking has become my new sport. Join me in it, in making the world a sweeter place in 2011. Meanness, stingyness (the flipside of greed), let’s kick it to the curb when we see it, to win. Up!
Click on Helen’s picture above to see a winner shine drug free. Her gratitude is medicine. Can’t get enough of her spirit to celebrate living life to the fullest with healthy respect for the gift of life. Wow!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.22.10~
HORIWOOD.COM GROWS TO 2.8 MILLION IN HOLLYWOOD
Horiwood.Com has reached the 2.8 million milestone as a Hollywood entertainment blog created and shared daily by a Maori New Zealander who lives in West Hollywood California. Yes, the moment does feel slightly juicy. Believe it or not, history has even been made.
At the 2.8 million mark this Christmas season, first up, thanks you fullahs worldwide, for your amazing daily interest and support online. Every day your presence makes me rise up and try harder as a person, shake off the crap and kick obstacles to the curb. The people you vote on this blog, I look at carefully and learn from. Thanks.
Let’s also think about the UN‘s latest message: that if war breaks out 2.8 million people of Sudan will be displaced. Harrowing news.
There’s always bloody something (or someone) else far more important to think about in the world isn’t there, before we can celebrate much these days? Oh well, welcome to being a global citizen I guess. Again… thanks a million.
Mauri ‘Ola. Life to US! Especially our brothers and sisters in Sudan this Christmas.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.21.10~
THE NEWSMAKERS AND OPINION SHAPERS LIST, USA IN 2010
We are, because others more worthy than us, feed into us so we can be. (more…)
WATER ROYALTIES THIS CHRISTMAS
To give the gift of clean drinking water to make a difference to a billion people who need it, click on this pic–to not be a fruitcake stuck in the past these festive holidays.
The world’s true royalty is anyone conscious enough to make water flow. This one fact, determines the baseline flow of all human rights in this world.
Because you all rock… Love ya! :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.19.10~
ALMOST AT 2.8 MILLION
I wonder if we’ll all make it, before Christmas?
It truly is kind of amazing we’ve gotten this far. Yet, we have. Torturous aye?! ;)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.17.10~
TODAY THE BLONDE ACTOR ASKED ME
Today the blonde actor asked me, “What if you’ve been living in Hollywood for five years now, and you just want to plan it all differently, like let go control and go with the flow because nothing else has really worked as I’d planned it. Do you have any thoughts?”
Said the Maori Kiwi to the twenty-five year old blonde, blue-eyed Wisconsin beauty, “I think living in the moment is the destination of the American journey. Us talking right now is the real USA today. You and me sharing, is living lives beyond entitlement.
“We are living in the future in this moment, realizing no one’s actually really three to help us, our generation has to help each other. We have what we need to do it. Collaboration to create now. When we share, we are not living in the mirage of The Dream. We are the dream. This is it.”
She cried.
GRATITUDE – 39 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN AMERICA
No one can get in the way of what I feel for you–songwriter, Alicia Keys
To be thankful of life and to value it, is always to hold the keys of the kingdom’s expansion. Here’s 29 things I’m thankful for having lived in America for four and a half years:
1. clean water. 2. enough food to feed everyone. 3. good humored people. 4. freedom of speech. 5. freedom of expression 6. enough homes to house everyone. 7. Barack Obama and the Obama family 8. some of the best smiles in the world. 9. fun. 10. diversity. 11. spirit. 12. new technology. 13. the American people. 14. country music. 15. best live concerts. 16. california. 17. african-american people. 18. native american indians. 19. choice. 20. passion. 21. demonstrative people. 22. diversity of 50 states. 23. Hawaii. 24. New York City. 25. enough medicine and skills to cure people/ medical research. 26. gifted filmmakers. 27. football. 28. generosity of spirit. 29. Maori and Kiwi in hollywood. 30. innovation. 31. big thinking nation. 32. America’s children and elderly. 33. Hispanic-Americans 34. America is a haven for Jewish people. 35. America is a haven for Arab people. 36. Peace keeping role. 37. fireworks displays. 38. ice cream flavors. 39. Saying “God Bless America” is still the way you show you deeply love your nation.
What most excites me is America’s potential to be realigned and focused towards ‘a new American life-style revolution’ and an incredible future ahead. Living here, I have been a part of this culture changing in tough years– I believe for the better and the good.
To read more on why gratitude is America’s most attractive trait this decade, this events company Premiere In A Box says it all in their website copy when defining what L.I.F.E means to them. Read it to be inspired. Fun. They are also based in Canada too.
[Image: Britney Spears via Cover Awards from Vogue]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.4.10~
TEN HOT HOLLYWOOD POSTS RIGHT NOW BEING SHARED – 12.4.10
Thanks to these media people and outlets today: SkyNews UK. AOL Canada.Daily Reporter. Canada East. News 1130. Xinhuanet China. Herald, Ireland. Buzz Box. CNTV UK. English People Daily. Sulekah. The Western Star – Canada. Leathbridge Herald. UK Wired News. Zimbio. CTV Canada. ABC Net Australia. Amherst Daily. The Guardian UK.People Forum China. BBC – In Pictures. Sina. CBC News Canada. News.Com Australia. In Sing. Earth Times. News Carrentals – UK. Malta Today. France 24. Chron.Com. The Peninsula. EinNews. The Guardian Prince Edward Island Canada. The Street. The Argus Ireland. Z-DNet UK. Derbyshire Times. Denbireshire Visitor. St Catharine’s Standard Canada. The Daily Telegraph Australia. Nerve – Ireland. Yorkshire Post. HS. Wolverhampton UK. Times of Malta. Capebrent Post Canada. East Day. Bristol Wired. Nine MSN. Ghana MMA.Twitter BBC. Nigeria Channels. Fife Today UK. Independent Ireland. New Statesmen. Wall Street Journal. CNN.Com. Monsters & Critics. Yahoo Ca. Hindustan Times. MyFoxBoston. Samarchar India. CBS News. TVNZ. Star Tribune – Minneapolis, St Paul Minnesota. One India. NPR. My Fox NYC. News Indi. My Fox Tampa Bay. News Web India. The Scottish Sun & Greystar. Beehive News. My Fox DC. Radio New Zealand. Local 15 TV Alabama. Lared Sun. Tweet MM. ESL. Miami Herald. Oregon Live. & Times Online Sri Lanka.
Gisele Bundchen covers Vogue Italia with a not so shocking revelation that she feels “very lucky.” Gratitude perhaps is the most shocking emotion of them all. Love it. Here in Los Angeles, Jack Black covers Parade Magazine, announcing that his best discovering of 2010 was sleep.
Snapshot of a Maori’s celebrity news blog in Hollywood at this minute. Here’s ten posts being shared by you online in the social networking community of Z-World. No matter what curve balls life throws our way, we always have so much to be thankful for. Thanks people:
1. Helen Wilson writes words for Pike River mining families
2. Georgina Haig wants to walk in Nicole Kidman’s Aussie-Hollywood shoes
3. Justin Gaston & friends for PETA
4. Runway strut by Miranda Kerr
5. Crown builder Iain Cathcart is Lol quircke funny!
6. Vladmimir Putin calls Leonardo DiCaprio “Muzhik” for tigers conservation
7. Addressing the Megan Fox media blackout day saga
8. Joseph Dunbar of Greymouth’s memory shines bright around the world
9. Mariah Carey for Barack Obama
10. West Hollywood Boxer Megan Gangitano has a message for America via Thoreau.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.4.10~
THE PIKE RIVER MINER’S RELIEF FUND DETAILS
Who: The Pike River Miner’s Relief Fund
What: A fund set up to relieve families of financial hardship in grief of the 29 miners lost in mine blasts.
How: Make a difference if you feel to.
Where: Donations can be made to the fund by direct credit to 06-0501-0121759-02
or – by post to Pike Miners’ Relief Fund, PO Box 2793, Wellington, New Zealand – Money Order.
To learn more – Read here. Image via World News.
~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…)
A FOURTH BLAST HITS PIKE RIVER COAL MINE, NEW ZEALAND
As a fourth blast hits the Greymouth coal mine, may we take solace in the fact –that no matter where we stem from, we all united as global family who share human suffering as friends connected by common humanity.
To the families of the lost Greymouth miners, these media outlets show their love in caring a lot for you:
The Toronto Sun, Canada. The Mirror UK. NZ Herald. The Sun UK. 3 News – New Zealand. The Hindu. (more…)
A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES, THANK YOU WORLDWIDE FOR BEING SO DIVERSE AND LOVING
Namaste. Special thanks to all of you who read Horiwood.Com in Hollywood. May your holiday season be a good one and 2011 be prosperous and abundantly blessed for you all. Most of all, may your smiles increase and your spirits rise.
According to Quantcast, here’s what we all look like. Pretty diverse. I love you all. As a fellow global citizen, thanks for being my daily teachers who share yourselves on a New Zealand Maori Kiwi’s blog. You’ve taught me so much. As caring is sharing. Many thanks for your open hearts and your limitless abilities to share. Peace.
| United States | 11,875 | 53.82 | 123 | 53.81 | 102 |
| United Kingdom | 1,635 | 7.41 | 147 | 7.24 | 157 |
| Canada | 1,115 | 5.05 | 128 | 5.00 | 134 |
| Australia | 765 | 3.47 | 220 | 3.37 | 230 |
| New Zealand | 515 | 2.33 | 848 | 3.07 | 1,116 |
| Germany | 450 | 2.04 | 55 | 2.03 | 81 |
| France | 345 | 1.56 | 42 | 1.54 | 47 |
| India | 315 | 1.43 | 59 | 1.41 | 84 |
| Brazil | 310 | 1.40 | 32 | 1.36 | 39 |
| Philippines | 265 | 1.20 | 108 | 1.19 | 103 |
| Italy | 250 | 1.13 | 41 | 1.10 | 52 |
| Spain | 210 | 0.95 | 39 | 0.93 | 46 |
| Mexico | 190 | 0.86 | 34 | 0.82 | 32 |
| Indonesia | 185 | 0.84 | 52 | 0.82 | 68 |
| Malaysia | 180 | 0.82 | 89 | 0.87 | 97 |
| Netherlands | 170 | 0.77 | 52 | 0.74 | 57 |
[Photographs: Train Rider by Amy Helene Johansson and Jump by Leann Arthur] (more…)
AS HOT AS KYLIE MINOGUE AT THE MACEY’S DAY PARADE 2010
Now how hot is Ms Kylie Minogue at the Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year? Um, so hot!
Here’s the Australian-UK diva singing her adored and fun single Get Outta My Way from The Big Apple.
Kick all of the negativity to the curb is her UP message.
“Even if Heaven is turning you on,
SAMUEL GREENFIELD WAS A GOOD BEVERLY HILLS JUDGE
Wisdom is always found in the center – locating fairness and justice. People with wisdom that’s fair are always stars.–Horiwood in California 2010.
Here’s a picture of Judge Samuel Greenfield who served the District of Beverly Hills and was a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, doing his best to decide what was fair in protecting residents of Los Angeles good interests.
He served as a Judge from 1963-1981. Or eighteen years of service. Despite being such a good judge for so long, he had his haters. In 1980 Samuel Greenfield, 67, was accused of being “curt and rude.” He never lost his challenge.
I like this man’s legacy in California. He’s worthy of being remembered today, here in Hollywood. If you believe in a sense of justice in America, than Sam Greenfield was A-0kay.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA.
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~
A QUICK KIWI STUDY OF JERRY BROWN – CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR KING ELECT – 11.4.10
“A clear perspective – JB”
Jerry Brown has returned to the ring, to be Governor Elect of California.
He’s 72, fighting fit – and holds press conferences at Oakland.
He’s California Governor King 2010′s. What got Jerry elected? The strength of the brown people vote of California, namely Latino.
Let’s see what grey powered wisdom he creates within California to lift up America and maintain the festive contribution Latina and Latino, Hispanic-Americans have been giving California for hundreds of years, before all of us aliens got here to rock it out with Star Trek films and the like.
Exciting stuff. Wisdom at the forefront is a gift of grey powered citizens world wide. The vote of the majority, is a gift of brown people worldwide –lest we ever forget. Obviously, brown and grey of any color can work successfully together. ‘Brown’ cultures of the world, respect their elderly, in a way that many ‘societies’ in ‘the modern’ world, have forgotten.
I’m excited about Jerry Brown here in Cali. Depth with style. Not a bad combo. His spirit reminds me of a California version of a “Winston Churchill solid oakwood kind of bloke.” I’m going with that feeling and vibe. Solid like oak wood.
Needless to say, Salsa chips are up in California with this news. Today though, for Oakwood nations – I’m going with an image of brown jellybeans in a jar – in honor of a clear perspective, Brown and people like him can offer US all.
In the Maori language as customary and appropriate from New Zealand to a new King – “Mihi atu ki a koe ou tatou Rangatira o Te Kawangatanga Pai a “Hori-Rakau.” Kia kaha. Ka Tu to Wairua Kitea Pai. Karawhiua.”
Go Fellah.
Here’s Jerry Brown in pictures from the LA Times –after a win, that Obama described as being a “shellacking.” At the moment: “The governor-elect has a ‘very sobering’ meeting in Washington today, with the director of finance and vows to begin work on a spending plan, which must be submitted within days of his taking office in January.” It’s all about a good excel spread sheet really, aint it!
[This post by Hollywood's resident Maori brown-Kiwi lad, demonstrating the art of Brown Shell Power - The Kiwi Pop Art Way in the Hollywood Hood. Horiwood.Com. Ca. USA. 11.4.10~
Closing Thought: The people of this man on a broom (pictured cleaning in Oakland after Jerry Brown's victory speech), were responsible for saving California (possibly America's too) future. Go Latino and Latina of the USA and THE WORLD! Cool people. Caliente politics are sweeping America, right now! Clean sweep shellackings, even! This one going in Obama's favor. :)
We are because we see through color
we see people all connected to Earth and brown soil
from the youngest to the eldest, from the least to the greatest
all sustained with Life from the Middle (heart) of Earth's goodness.
We like to share
smiles
around like Chinese-esque Kiwi fruit
grown in Middle Earth and California.
~NZ Kiwis for Latina, Latino, California, all people of America & more fun in the World. Pic sources: tahi, rua, toru. Music: Good Kiwi girls sounds: When the Cats Away starring Annie Crummer & friends… Kia Orana!!!~
CRITICISM IS GOOD MEDICINE – THANKS
Here’s some one liners Im hearing right now. All names are withheld to protect the innocent:
1. You’ve had your opportunities in the USA now. Come back to New Zealand.
2. Bro, you’re not a kid anymore. Stop writing like you’re 13.
3. You go too far.
4. Gossip content doesn’t make us feel comfortable to be a part of your blog.
5. I’m going to kill you.
6. I will invest in your website, if you give me 50% of all earnings and final editorial sign off of all content.
7. Put more of yourself into it. Your personality, your charisma, your humor.
8. Call yourself a Maori? you don’t even use macrons!
9. I don’t read your blog. Too much New Zealand stuff on it that as an American, I don’t care to know or understand. (Always the person, who has never owned a passport and… fair enough!)
10. You don’t have enough NZ content on it.
My favorite was no. 3 –touche. Apologies to anyone I ever offended, with creative artistic liberty licenses I shared, to give freedom of speech and expression to issues or just for fun. For me, visibility (no matter what the angle taken) is a celebration of your presence in the world. Celebrity = “someone worthy of being celebrated.”
If I judge someone harshly, I judge myself ten fold. Also a point of this blog. I just do mine up front.
Again, thank you for being good sports. And if you think you’re worthy of being showcased, hit me back with a comment on any blog post, with a brief message of what it is you want to promote. Thanks team.
Praise: A. “Your blog is a good idea. Needs a more updated look to it.”
B. “You’re a fabbo fellah. Do you know that?”
C. “Mighty man. A tall poppy.”
D. “Crazy nutter! Bahahhaha.”
E. “We like the Maori content. hori = Maori. :) “
These last five compliments, all could apply to you fellah-esses and fellahs who read Horiwood.Com. I’ll take the criticism (plus D – my fav), gladly – and give you the praise. Your readership and presence is this blog. You are its pulse and arms. Thanks people.
[Artwork by the good people of Washington DC at the Restore Sanity Rally - Signage via TPM. Volunteer humorists and spontaneous political 'actors' expressing themselves at the rally].
It is the people that make America such a great nation. Surreal. Crazy fun.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.2.10~
BATMAN IS A BIG RENA OWEN FAN AND MAORI CINEMA IN 3D – HOLLYWOOD – 10.31.10
I got totally owned by Batman this year, for Halloween, who wanted to say “Hola to the Maori people of New Zealand.”
Adds “The Batman Named Jose” playing an American super hero: “I’m a big fan of Rena Owen in the film Once Were Warriors. Awesome film. Made us all cry. You guys are the hot sh*t.”
Alrighty then, go Rena!!! Inspiring Hispanic-Americans like few Kiwi’s can. Demonstrating staying power, that in Maori films with Maori actors a market still exists and is strong, years after good ‘Maori’ Kiwi films have been made. That’s the power of one Maori woman actor giving an outstanding performance.
Like Niki Caro proves when speaking Maori, working with iwi (Maori tribes) and adapting and directing a filmic story by a great storyteller, Ta Witi Ihimaera you don’t have to be Maori to serve Maori stories with a stellar Oscar-nominated Maori cast to an audience the world loves.
Likewise, Ainsley Gardiner, Taika Cohen and Cliff Curtis also demonstrate these traits as producers/ directors of the Berlin Silver Bear award winning film, Boy. Following in their footsteps is The Auckland University schooled and Scorsese and Spike Lee (at Tisch NYC) trained Reina Webster currently working on her first feature film I hear.
I don’t know why, but when I hear about Reina’s news in Hollywood and listen to Jose talk with enthusiasm about Maori film, I know that we have a Hobbit industry, a 3D Hollywood ancillary sister-city industry for Hollywood’s biggest earning films of all time and a Maori film industry beating like a strong pulse for the world. It’s humbling and yet invigorating to feel at the same time, while I stand on Hollywood concrete–in The City of Angels (The city of messengers with a message) that is known far and wide as being The Entertainment Capitol of The World. Go Maori and Polynesian filmmakers, I reckon!
Batman agrees.
In celebration of Neil Hamilton‘s legacy in Hollywood (the dude who played Commisioner Gordon in the Batman TV series of the 1960′s), this one’s also going out to H-Town - Hamilton, New Zealand with H-Town brothers Katchafire‘s new reggae song, showcasing the wonders of animated hori pop culture moments.
Wherever these lads play around the world, clouds of Marijuana rise above their audiences. Why is that? They have the Bob Marley star factor as reggae rocks stars down pat. I imagine that Katchafire will be mega busy in California this year. Shikes if Proposition 19 goes through at the ballot, they could live in California for half of every year, and just play major Hollywood events. Now how can we get a Katcahfire song onto a movie soundtrack. I can’t believe no one in New Zealand or Hollywood has done that yet, with Prop 19 having had millions thrown in to campaign for it. Heck, the Facebook movie guys (funding Prop 19′s campaign largely) would have had Katchafire in their film’s soundtrack lineup, had they heard of these lads.
Like, they’d be perfect for something like The Hangover 2 for example, if you watch one’s American politics on the Bill Maher Show.
Enjoy our reggae brothas Maori music featured here.
If you don’t like reggae, all good, here’s my choice of cinema today too of a piece of entertainment worth watching, depicting the beauty of Maori-Kiwi humor, with the Oscar-nominated short film, Two Cars, One Night–a Kiwi classic short. Beneath the skin color, it’s actually a small town, Country Music values story, really.
It’s very clear, Maori have gifts as filmmakers that heal human rights rifts in the world. That’s what our presence in the film making world is capable of. It’s what we do with Spirit. Every Maori knows we do. No point pretending anymore we don’t have the gifts our ancestors gave us, to get this job done in the world, to make it a more fair place. Hopefully in 3D too soon. We (and our New Zealand and Hollywood film texts) are box office stars too. Are you ready for US? Hope so.
[Thanks Jose & to a star that burns bright in the minds of Hispanic-America and Mexico (people living in two nations who share a gulf containing oil) --for a legacy that's still memorable on celluloid for everyone. Thanks Rena for giving a performance that lingers in hearts and minds and burns so bright, like a star does, still today in our consciousness.]
[This post for Aunty Robin Cheung of Kawerau country, Bay of Plenty --now of West Auckland, who says she prays for me every day. Thanks Aunty Robin for your love and thoughtfulness. "You fly!" May I do your prayers justice in this Maori-Kiwi life I was given to serve others, for our lives to be good and "to matter" to "people that matter who need us to matter." Thank you].
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.31.10~
MANA – TE PIRINGA KAPA HAKA GLEE CLUB – SING “AND NOW LET THE WEAK SAY I AM STRONG” IN MAORI
Ko au, ko koe. Ko koe, ko au. I am you. You are I. One –Cliff Curtis, wedding ring inscription
A smile is your passport to anywhere–Horiwood’s dad.
If you’re happy, you’ll notify your face–Rob Packer, pianist/songwriter, NZ
Te Whare e tu nei, Aue karanga mai–This haus that stands, calls–Kataraina Mataira, songwriter
Ka kata roa tatou, Ka kahanui tatou katoa–In laughter is our unanimous great strength–Horiwood
I’ve showcased their a capella singing talents on this blog before, here they are again. With such beautiful smiles, voices and wearing subtle capes – they are like Polynesian super heroes to me, when looking at them from Hollywood. Te Piringa Kapa Haka (Maori Cultural Glee Club) sing in beautiful harmony together. They sing of gratitude. Some of the lyrics translated in English are these:
“And now, let the weak say I am strong. Let the poor say I am rich…
With grateful hearts, we (collectively, in unison as one) give thanks”
Culturally rich, beautiful, spiritually and culturally-nuanced entertainment, in harmony and unison. I love these kids. Their message is UP! and so Hollywood Maori groovy. Go Te Piringa. Go Kapa Haka. And go hori entertainers of the world. Fun! These young people have a spirit of gratitude, a rareness of sweetness and diplomacy that is needed for all children today in our times. They embody youthful potential of smiling faces shared with each other as young people, celebrating the unique gift of cummunity. A universal trait that should not be diminished by economics. They are winners, with their sweetness.
It is my belief, that gratitude and celebration of thankfulness, helps paradigm-shift young people from economic lack, leading to depression (robbing life from the young) -but gratitude moves teenagers into a realization that friends, community, family, culture, art and the performance arts together are always a young person’s treasure. No economic grinch or pinch of circumstance can take that away - which is why I share them with you all as worthy Hollywood entertainment today. Go kids!
This one going up for fans of Glee here in the US as reflection of Glee diversity of a nation that is an ally of America. And in support of New Zealand’s very own Hilary Clinton-esque Maori woman politician, Hekia Parata in recognition of her current Mana campaign and what this means for The World.
[Lea Michele and friends of Club Glee take the cover of GQ Magazine. Scandalous! Image via Cover Awards]
Hekia Parata is a person I proudly associate myself to being from New Zealand and a resident of California - in recognition of her potential to further Maori and Polynesian culture, entertainment in the world – as a healing remedy in entertainment and world politics to remind all people, to stop, consider nature, the environment, the earth’s resources, to consider people – regardless of tribe, of race, of ethnicity, to consider Spirit – and to always give thanks in a shared celebration of life. This is her armory as a politician of future significance. When I met Hekia at Kai on the Bay, now Kai in The City of Wellywood, 7 years ago, she sparkled, wearing a large single white diamond, a centre piece gem stone of Africa, worn around her neck.
Mauri ‘Ola from Hollywood. Btw: Hekia can sing like these soloists. I’ve seen her, sing at a dinner table for 15. After dining on seafood bisque and koura as a main (lobster) in Wellywood, Hekia then sung with her friends! An amazing born performer. She can sing and entertain. Hekia this one is for you and Porirua, especially and what this city can give the world from Wellywood. In celebration of Maori, Polynesian, Kiwi kids potential and New Zealand culture of cinema and the Performing Arts to bless the world, this post goes up with a sense of joy and pride in the Entertainment Capitol of The World. ICU.
Did I mention Hekia has the best “hair care” in the world too, naturally. She’s like a government Work Hori In Progress meeting – she can Whip That Hair! like a colorful Willow Smith Snr. She’s all about rocking good hair in politics, like many First Ladies of the Political set are in The World at this minute. Not to name names from the Cameroon or the US, either. Lol! Fun ahead. :)
[This image - Black Paua Torch of Liberty - Black leather, with triple-stitched black cotton on Paua shell (symbolizing, the eyes that see of our ancestors and leaders as carved on every marae wall in "wood" of every Maori tribe, unifying US - for Hekia Parata and leaders who always make you smile. This is their gift as unique politicians. Memorable leaders, born once in a lifetime for such a time as this. Louder!]
~Written in the spirit of Te Rangi Hiroa - Sir Peter Buck from American shores to his friend Sir Apirana Ngata in New Zealand, to strengthen leadership – with the tenderness of Maori Aroha. A reminder that long before we were ever given titles, our ancestors chose us to be here, and our conviction as Indigenous Peoples also bore witness with our breath that breathes richly today in our spoken reo (voices)–of the fact that we always chose ourselves to be taonga of The World and speak Life into eachother’s wairua (spirit) to strengthen, so that all could benefit. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.20.10~
[Ps: Waiting to win an election sux. It's like waiting for high school exam results, just a little. Here's some Glee paying tribute to a great, Britney Spears, to amuse, while dancing, campaigning and waiting for those results, with a Taylor Lautner reference as a reminder of what Indigenous kids of any culture can achieve, if gym and action star trained and fit - with the right support needed and allocated. Polynesian super heroes are the future of 3D Hollywood and Wellywood action films if given the opportunity to be.]
GRATITUDE IN CHILE, HAITI, HOLLYWOOD IS LIKE SPIRIT BREATHING
Today, I celebrated new leadership in the world’s furthermost Supercity south of Los Angeles, (Auckland, New Zealand) as a new Mayor got elected. I also obsessed about relationships, marriage, splits, polygamist families in media images on tabloid magazines at the check out, for all Americans to see.
In the middle of the deep and the shallow and different moments of my day, Bob – The Author appeared out of the blue, so that along with his good family, he could save my could-have-been-homeless-blogging-in-Hollywood-Maori-persona today. I had work to hand in, so it was a paycheck I am thankful for.
We went to Toyota, where a headlight got fixed and coffee was had while waiting. Bob’s book is a hit with the Borders bookstore team he visited in San Diego. He’s on a roll. Then on the way out the door, I met a next-door-neighbor, who said “what a coincedence you’re at my job.” Okay, then. It must be a slow week in Hollywood, because I missed the marvel factor, on that one!
Actually, the real coincidence, was Bob playing Super LA dad today. He’s 89 and Bob still gives a damn to write words in a book about peace’s potential in the Middle East, as well as further an American-Maori in this town.
When I got home, I noticed that Darlene Etienne‘s survival story of being discovered in Haiti’s rubble and rescued from it after 15 days is rating on this blog. Her story touched the world’s heart for her strength of spirit, in a similar way that the Chilean miners story has too. In this moment we see how strong spirit is.
In a weird way, as you were looking for news on Darlene, it was a jolt to the brain that perhaps I feel a little bit like Darlene Etienne today too, in a minor leagues way. Thanks Team Bob. This economy and recession has got mean teeth. And not in a sexy way. We are at war. The enemy is not a person, it’s an invisible system eroding spirt, soul, life – ironically, it’s occurring dollar by dollar. Reprieves are few and far between from an invisible enemies strangling grip.
But it’s moments like today, when good people step up to bat, that makes you stand on grace and feel gratitude, that’s like oxygen allowing you to breathe, some more.
That’s how it was today. No longer potentially homeless in The Entertainment Capitol of the World. This month. The crushing feeling, that made me one with people fighting off foreclosures the world over – lifted. I had chosen just to accept it and own it, for whichever way the cookie was going to crumble. I am no different to many beautiful Americans fighting for a dream. However, today I could breathe freely again. Sheltered by grace. Thank you for extending spirit this hori’s way. :)
True fact: I live in an affluent nation. Today like Haiti survivors, like rescued Chile miners, weirdly in Hollywood, I too knew a nation’s grace. Many thanks.
~Image – AP. Image of Chile miners family and friends, CBS. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.14.10~
GRATITUDE – FOR A PHONE THAT WORKS
Yesterday, I didn’t have a phone. For Special FX editing team, sponsoring my phone. Thanks very much.
Thanks also for appreciating this low-tech blog and getting it. You’re awesome. I might see you lot at the Hollywood Bowl this Friday, then. Thanks too for the ticket and invite.
Many thanks. God bless you. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.11.10~
A BEN LUMMIS CHRISTMAS – THEY CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY – HOLLYWOOD 2010
Christmas is about possessing a spirit of compassion–to give away richly. Got spirit?
It’s Christmas time in the City of Angels, California USA. I’m so excited I’m here for that. It’s a Christmas miracle that I am (long story!).
The moment I most associate with a Christmas feeling in the Entertainment Capitol of the World this year is perhaps Ben Lummis singing They Can’t Take That Away live in 2006. Lummis has vocal quality few American male stars that have been manufactured in the last five years show. He’s the real deal singing star. He’s more like Usher in terms of true vocal quality as a live performer than someone like T-Pain for example.
Ben’s winning performance of when he got discovered is a Hollywood-worthy moment to me as it reflects how trends created in California can and do cross cultures, effortlessly across the world too, (more…)
December 21, 2010 | Categories: Ben Lummis, California, Compassion, Gospel Music, Grace, Gratitude, Hollywood Today, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Live Music Artists, Music Industry News, New Zealand, Polynesian, Spirit, Tonga, West Hollywood | Tags: Ben Lummis, California, Compassion, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Gospel Music, Grace, Gratitude, Hollywood Today, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Live Music Artists, Music Industry News, New Zealand, Polynesian, Pop Cultural Commentary, Spirit, Tonga, West Hollywood | 1 Comment »