LOVE ANGELES PROJECT®

Before Gaga

Source: MTV - Aside from her meteoric rise to worldwide fame from seemingly nowhere, one of the most fascinating aspects of Lady Gaga's ascension to the pop stratosphere is how formerly unknown New York rock club singer Stefani Germanotta seems to have known all along that this was her destiny.

A just-published profile in New York magazine, written by Vanessa Grigoriadis and including an interview conducted in March 2009 — supplemented by recent quotes from people she knew during her early days, including songwriter/producer Rob Fusari, who sued Gaga earlier this month — the self-assured singer is depicted as already carrying herself like the pop icon she would soon become.

"I don't like Los Angeles," [frown] she told the reporter, insisting that she be addressed by her stage name and recoiling from the camera flashes of tourists taking pictures of each other than she assumed were meant for her. "The people are awful and terribly shallow, and everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to play the game. I'm from New York. I will kill to get what I need."

Though her path to six #1 singles, millions of album sales and a massive stage show appears to have happened in a blink of an eye, Gaga, 24, said the process took longer than it appears. "I went through a great deal of creative and artistic revelation, learning, and marination to become who I am," she said in the article. "Tiny little lie? I wanted to become the artist I am today, and it took years."

It began on the Upper West Side of New York, where she grew up in a duplex with her dad, whose company installed wi-fi systems in hotels, her mother, who was a vice president at Verizon for a time and younger sister Natali, now 18, who has a cameo in the "Telephone" video. The sisters attended the small Sacred Heart Catholic girls school near the Guggenheim museum, where the Germanotta's were a solidly middle class pair mixed in with the outrageously wealthy and those attending on scholarships. She began taking day-long acting classes on Saturdays at age 11 and by eighth grade was landing the leads in shows such as "Guys and Dolls" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at Sacred Heart's brother school, Regis High. Friends told New York that she insisted on being called by her character's names even then, refusing to answer to Stefani backstage during rehearsals and performances.

Gaga also held down a job as a waitress at a diner on the Upper West Side during her school years, using one of her first paychecks to guy a $600 Gucci purse, a preview of her later dive into high fashion. Though some jealous older girls sometimes referred to her as "the Germ," the article says, most classmates remember her as being popular and not the awkward outcast she has painted herself to be in interviews. Continue reading at MTV.com

The Perfect Visitor

Last week, in the middle of the night, I found myself in what seemed to be a dream. In the "dream," I was in my bed, under my covers, in the middle of the night and I heard someone turn my bathroom sink on full blast. Being that I live alone, I was startled a bit as I was sure that somebody was in my bathroom. My next thought, however, was that I somehow knew my visitor was neither an intruder nor an uninvited guest. I felt that it was my grandfather, "Papa" (read more about Papa here.) Although it what comforting that a burglar was not inside my home, my anxiety only decreased a little. I could feel a warm light coming from the bathroom, just outside my open bedroom door and when I tried to call out "Papa?," I realized that my entire body was in some form of paralysis - no matter how hard I tried, I could not make a sound louder than a faint exhale of breath. I became nervous and frustrated, struggling to break free from my bondage so I could get nearer to Papa...

What felt like the next instant, I was in my bed and my heart was racing. The good news was that I could move my body once again. I was aware of my heightened pulse and thought to myself, what a dream? A few minutes later, I dozed off once again. And once again, I found myself in what seemed to be a dream, in my bed, under my covers. This time, directly in front of me, above my window, was a large fluorescent purple holographic flower which  resembled something that one would find in the film Avatar. I got out of bed to inspect the magnificent flower and noticed that my entire wall was covered with flowers, although none of them were as brilliant and radiant as the main one...

The next morning I called my father to tell him about my "dream." Five minutes later, my mom called me and asked "could you tell me about the dream you had last night?" I did. My mom said "well, you're not going to believe this." In the middle of the same night, my mom had trouble sleeping and for some reason or another began talking to Papa. She said, "Papa, it's been a few months now since you passed on and you have yet to come into any of our dreams. You know that I would like you to come into my dream, but I realize that I wasn't the nicest person to you in the last few months or so. Could you then visit Forrest in his dream tonight?"  

I love confirmations, don't you?

Mastin Kipp and The Daily Love

Source: TheDailyLove.com - It's no mystery anymore, Love is in the air!!! I bumped into an amazing woman the other day in Venice who let me know about the "free daily e-multivitamin for the soul" known as The Daily Love. You can imagine how excited I got to know that people all around the world are truly opening up to Love and I mean the true Spirit of Love!! And as we step further into the powerful lovolution taking place on the planet, one by one, the love will begin to flow through each and every one of us, and Harmony will be restored amongst the human race and Mama Earth!

According to their website, "The Daily Love was created by Mastin Kipp in 2005 under the original name "Thoughts for the Day." Kipp, who is also the CEO of The Love Yourself Company (www.LoveYourself.net), embarked upon a journey in 2004 to find his true purpose and figure out the techniques to best manifest Highest Potential. Along the way he figured there must have been other people who have come before him who've were met with the same challenges he was facing to find true happiness and inner peace." Kipp went on a journey to find the fruits of unconditional love, wisdom, health and balance to bring to the world through a daily e-newsletter of inspiration which soon became known as The Daily Love. What's not to love?

Ms. Spider & The Case For Expressive Arts

Source: JenniferLothrigel.com - As many of you know, art is a very important part of my life. The creative process has always been one my most dear methods of transforming the unconscious material that can sometimes come up to 'bite' us. Last year I completed my certification in Expressive Arts and through that process I began to integrate art into my work more and more. When I say art, I speak of creative expression in all of its many forms. I view creative expression as an essential part of being a whole individual. Further, I would say that I view the creative process as a powerful way to obtain wholeness. It has certainly been so in my personal experience. I wanted to share an example of this with you from a recent 'Intuitive Painting' experience that I had. You will find the painting below (at the end of the note) along with the writing that I did about the painting (this is a way that I process what has 'shown up' through my intuitive creative expression.) Following, the writing I share an example of how I work with the creative process when working with clients and in workshops.

This is the writing that I did about her. What I do, is once I have painted I sit down and dialogue with the painting. I simply ask that the painting reveal why it has come to me. I don't try to 'figure it out' rather, listen to what it has to say as if it is a wise messenger who has come bearing valuable information.

This is what Ms. Spider had to say: "I have come creeping out of your unconscious womb space to let you know that there is debris down there that is getting in my way of maintaining a beautiful and vibrant web. I want this cleared because my web is being weighted down.

Please listen to me seriously, because if you do not, I will bite. And my bite is very painful. I am not afraid of dark places, or what I find there and this is how I am a gift to you. I do not fear what I may find or doubt my ability to face what seems to be too scary to look at. I do not doubt my ability to take on the largest of monsters. I can see in the dark. This is my advantage."

Additionally, I had been having dreams that mirrored the message of this painting. The process that I used with this painting is what I teach in my classes when we use 'Intuitive Painting'. Everything is energy and symbols hold so much energy for us. There is so much in symbols for us to dive into. In intuitive painting, I teach how to pay attention to energy and then the painting process becomes a listening exercise where we listen with our hands. In this process, we are following the energy throughout the entire painting. It is very exciting and curious to wonder what will appear. What symbols will reveal themselves to us? In the painting above, I had no intentions and this wonderful, very feminine spider came with such a valuable message for me.

I should add that prior to painting this, I prayed, I meditated and I did a ritual to connect with my deepest aspects of myself as well as my most Spiritually connected parts of myself. I use this process also in my classes and my individual session work. Following the dialogue with the painting there is much more exploration to be done. I often will use Voice Dialogue with painting and discover parts of myself or my clients that are similar to the painting and listen to what they have to say. I often will have clients dance the painting and discover how it feels in their bodies. Or write a poem about the painting.

By spending time with the painting we can see where there is personal growth that is beckoning us. And this gives us a place to work from. With this, I may then, use Shamanic work such as Soul retrieval. And I most always do a ceremony to initiate the arrival or the exit of what has been painted in or out of my life. Sometimes paintings are parts of us that are dying and other times, they are parts that are being born into our experience.

In individual sessions we don't do large paintings such as the one above due to time constraints but we will use watercolors or acrylics and then work much like what I described above.

Thanks for allowing me to share in my process. If you have any questions about the process or working individually this way I am happy to answer. For more visit www.JenniferLothrigel.com

Jimi Hendrix Fans Have a New Experience in Store

Source: LA Times - The late musician's half-sister is overseeing the release of a 'new' album of previously unreleased material.

With the exception of James Dean, who made only three films, there might be no pop-culture icon who has done more with less than the late Jimi Hendrix. The ultimate guitar hero released just three studio albums before his death in 1970, but new generations of music fans keep plugging into his amplified legacy.

The volume of Hendrix's music is about to get turned up.

Today, the Hendrix estate and Sony Music Entertainment will announce the March 9 release of a "new" Hendrix album, "Valleys of Neptune," which will feature a dozen unreleased recordings.

The late star's sister, Janie Hendrix, calls the material a "major revelation" about her brother's musical directions at the time of his death, but the project and Sony's intense interest in it also reveal plenty about the modern music marketplace -- namely that proven stars of the past, even the dead ones, are growing more important to an industry facing an uncertain future.

At last week's massive 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sony chairman and chief executive Howard Stringer opened his company's presentation by talking about Sony's Legacy Recordings and its licensing agreement with Experience Hendrix, the Seattle-based company that acts as steward of the estate.

That partnership was first announced last summer, but today marks the real rollout of Sony's venture into the Hendrix vault. The company also will re-release familiar Hendrix albums bundled with new DVD documentaries, take the star into the online sector aggressively and look for synergy opportunities with the biennial Hendrix all-star tribute tour that begins its national run March 4 in Santa Barbara.

"It's an auspicious start in fulfilling a shared vision for the Jimi Hendrix catalog going forward," Legacy general manager Adam Block said.

Perhaps, but it also offers insight into the mind set at the major record labels. There was a major scramble among Sony's rivals to land the Hendrix deal for the simple reason that icons of the past are viewed as a particularly good investment at a time when CD sales of new music are in continued decline and up-and-coming acts represent limited upside amid the shifting profit realities of the digital-download era.

In other words, the rewind button looks like a safer bet these days.

Nostalgia sells

Warner Music Group has undertaken a major Frank Sinatra revival that is both archival -- with the release of vintage recordings -- and entrepreneurial with new ventures in advertising, film and perhaps a Las Vegas casino. Michael Jackson was the bestselling artist of last year (8.2 million albums sold in the U.S. alone), and the Beatles came in third (3.3 million); country crossover singer Taylor Swift finished between the two with music that was actually recorded in this century.

The Fab Four also hit the video game market with their Rock Band game, the latest of their seemingly seasonal encores as a pop-culture force.

And now, Hendrix is warming up as a 21st century enterprise.

Born in Seattle in 1942, Johnny Allen Hendrix would take on a persona that matched his trippy guitar feedback. His persona -- part gypsy mystic/part cosmic visitor -- made him seem somehow both earthy and otherworldly, a combination that made him a touchstone figure for a tie-dyed generation.

When he set his guitar on fire on stage in 1967 at the Monterey International Pop Festival he truly ignited his career. The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded signature 1960s tracks such as "Purple Haze" and "Foxey Lady," but their frontman's fashion influence and guitar innovations made him greater than the sum of those hits.

Hendrix died in London after a night of barbiturate use in September 1970. He was 27 and had no will. His estate, which is now valued somewhere north of $80 million, was caught up in legal battles for years; initially, control went to his father, Al Hendrix, but over the next decade he ceded it to others with results that left Hendrix devotees grumbling.

Power struggle

Eventually, Al Hendrix wrested control back, leading to the 1995 creation of Experience Hendrix, but his 2002 death led to more court conflicts. Janie, the half-sister of Jimi, emerged as the victor when the dust settled in 2008. She says that now, finally, the obstacles have been cleared and "Valleys of Neptune" is part of a major cache of material that will be tapped.

"There are things that were acquired through the years, both music and film footage and home recordings, or things that were left behind by the old administration not taking care of things," she said. "We have material for a decade's worth [of new releases]."

Janie Hendrix added that "Neptune" has some familiar songs -- die-hard fans might have heard some of these tracks on various bootleg recordings that have turned up over the years -- but these versions are startling.

"It sounds," she said, "like Jimi could have recorded them yesterday."

Any new release will face withering inspection from Hendrix scholars. One of them, Charles R. Cross, author of the acclaimed 2005 Hendrix biography "Room Full of Mirrors" and an occasional critic of the Hendrix estate, said the track listing comes with the promise of pristine presentations of long-muddied material.

"With so many different 'official' albums so far and hundreds of bootlegs, very little Hendrix is truly 'unheard' or 'unreleased' these days," Cross said Sunday. "But to listen to some of Jimi's final Experience recordings in their original versions, with quality remastering, is enough to get any Hendrix fan excited, particularly when the songs are as good as 'Hear My Train,' one of Jimi's best-ever tracks."

South African native Eddie Kramer was the lead producer on the album, and he was also the engineer in the studio with Hendrix during the original sessions. Kramer spent months using vintage analog approaches and the latest digital tools to excavate the material. "I felt like an archaeologist using a brush who finds, underneath the dust, this marvelous gold artifact," he said.

'A new direction'

Kramer said the music of "Neptune" comes primarily from 1969, a time of "both frustration and real excitement" for Hendrix as he pushed his way toward "a new direction." The guitarist had brought in an old friend, bassist Billy Cox, to play on some of the tracks; on Friday, Cox, now living in Nashville, said he is giddy at the prospect of hearing the results of his work with Hendrix.

"I can tell you that Jimi was on his way to a powerful new thing, a new direction completely, he was going back to his roots and he wanted a sound with more soul," said Cox, later in Hendrix's Band of Gypsys. "Who can say where it would have led him if he hadn't died?"

Cox chuckled when asked about the sway Hendrix has on young rock fans and new generations of artists. People who were born after Hendrix was buried seem to view him as a wizard who wasn't quite real.

"Jimi was a complete original and a visionary," Cox said. "Every 10 years a new generation finds him. There are only two kinds of guitarists in the world. The ones who talk about how they were influenced by Jimi Hendrix and those who were influenced by Jimi Hendrix but won't admit it."

Film as a Medium for Consciousness Transformation

This Sunday, January 10, 2010 7PM-10PM -- Project Butterfly, the Funkmeyers and Royal/T present an intimate evening with our good friend Mikki Willis, award-winning filmmaker and Founder of the Elevate Film Festival.

Hosted by Jenny & Otis Funkmeyer, the evening will focus on new Paradigms for Transformational Media as we embark upon the second decade of the 21st century.

"Our communication systems and media technology have reached a level never achieved before. The technology to assist in planetary and spiritual elevation is here. The question is how are we to harness these communication systems in a new way, with greater respect, responsibility and intention? How can we forge this new path? What are the obstacles? What are the next steps to be taken?"

You are invited to join us to engage more deeply in this discussion. Mikki Willis will be the keynote, where he will be sharing what he's learned through Elevate about the power of film to transform our world....

There is no better time to learn, share and discuss with a true leader in the world's greatest Lovolution! Personally, I wouldn't miss it to see Avatar for the second time!

When?

Sunday, January 10 7pm-10pm

Where?

Royal T Cafe - 8910 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Contribution:

$35 - Which includes a delicious dinner and a glass of wine or pot of tea.

If you have not made your reservation we recommend you do so asap, seats are filling up fast. Click here to RSVP now!

For more information about the event please visit: www.projectbutterfly.org
or feel free to email info@projectbutterfly.org

A Knight's Tale

Source: haute living - Throughout legend and lore, knights in shining armor would ride into battle on their trusty steeds, armor glinting in the sunlight, and commit unthinkable acts of bravery. Their dedication to the greater good garnered the love and admiration of their country and sovereign. While Sir Richard Branson has traded his stallion for motor bikes, racing yachts, fast cars, and hot air balloons and his armor for a space suit, he remains true to the values of his predecessors. And although this fair-haired maverick may be writing his own knightly code, he still lives by the ideals of chivalry: bravery—the willingness to rise to the most challenging obstacles; gallantry—a true concern for the greater good of man; and honor—the ability to look on his achievements and accolades with gracious humility and fuel for future success.

The Young Squire

Our knight’s tale begins in an unassuming part of London just like many young squires that came before him. His mother, Eve Branson, was a constant driving force in his success, offering invaluable advice like, “If you are shy, it’s your fault, you are not thinking of others.” Branson fondly says of his mother, “Every son would think of their mother as a wonderful person. I’ve had to try and keep up with her all my life. I just went to my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary. She’s always wanted to make a difference, she loves people.” Today, at 88 years old, Eve remains right by his side and attributes their closeness to their similarities. “Being constructive in whatever form, we both find it essential to making us tick,” she says.

Being constructive was not a difficult mandate for a boy who, at the age of 16, established a national magazine entitled Student—an unlikely venture when you consider this boy had minor dyslexia. The ever-enthusiastic teenager, more interested in sports and this publishing project than his studies, seemed determined to succeed. Eve recalls an indelible “spark” that foretold of her son’s future success. “His spark needed to be somewhat curbed when young, but curbed without killing that spark.” Luckily, that spark only ignited further when, in his next business venture, he formed a mail-order record service that offered better prices than record stores, which eventually led to significant discounts in record prices across the country. The next logical progression for this ambitious youngster was a record store on London’s Oxford Street. However, getting there was not always easy for young Branson. “I used to hitchhike everywhere as a teenager. It was the only way I could get around, and even when I tried to pass my driving test my car kept breaking down,” Branson recalls.

Never deterred by transportation setbacks, Branson eventually did get a car, and a country estate to go with it. It is here that he established his first recording studio, which he leased out to lesser-known artists. “Richard bought this great big house in Oxford. He asked us up and I thought, ‘God, haven’t you done well?’ This chap came in and said, ‘Listen to this.’ And we sat and heard this awful noise. That was Tubular Bells. Now we love it,” Eve said to The Guardian, alluding to the Mike Oldfield album that launched Virgin Records, one of the most successful British record companies of all time. Virgin Records signed British music icons such as Culture Club, the Sex Pistols, and Simple Minds, bringing British progressive rock into the forefront of 80s and 90s pop culture. Continue reading here...

Carbon 14 Will Award 50K Toward Your Action

Are you doing something good for the environment and wish you had a few more bucks to assist you in doing more good?

Well, the eco-chic watch brand Carbon 14 wants to help and they're putting their money where their mouth is - they've recently announced that they will be giving away a top prize of $50,000 toward your Environmental action or cause! Oh yes, 20 finalists will receive the Carbon 14 watch of their choice.   

If you, or someone you know, is doing something extraordinary, make sure to submit the cause or action (by nominating yourself or others) and how the 50K award will help out.

According to the C14 website, this opportunity is for everyone, and that means everyone - not just the eco-geeks who seem to be inventing the next fuel-efficient jet (although their submissions are also encouraged!) Don't feel shy at all about submitting your action even if you simply want to make your house or yard more environmentally friendly - you can still enter and win!

Most important of all, we need YOUR help in identifying worthwhile environmental causes. We have created an interactive discussion forum for each nomination, so you have the ability to share your ideas and comment on other's nomiations.

They need to get all your nominations by February 28, 2010 - then the voting begins. Who are the judges? Find out for yourself - we've included pics of a few of them above, recognize anybody?

So make sure to tell your friends, neighbors, and everyone you know to vote for your idea. The Top 20 nominees who receive the most votes will be reviewed by a panel qualified judges. Check out the panel of judges below. From those Top 20 nominees, the judges will choose the Top 5 finalists - then through another round of voting YOU will decide who wins the C14 $50000 Environmental Award.

Check out the the contest rules and deadline dates here.

Architecture In Times Of Need: Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Launches New Book

Ecorazzi - "Make It Right NOLA has a new website and now a new book too. The green building organization founded by Brad Pitt is currently helping to rebuild New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward and the book, titled “Architecture in Times of Need”, documents that process. From the synopsis,

This book which was sponsored and assembled by [architecture firm] Graft, features essays on the history and people of the Lower 9th Ward, the hurricane and its impact, and tracks the development and progress of the Make It Right project. But the primary focus of the book is on the design process and designs. The contributions to the project from Adjaye Associates, GRAFT, Gehry Partners and Shigeru Ban, among others, are shown in numerous photographs and renderings with sketches, building plans, and informative commentary. The book also describes the sustainable Cradle to CradleSM approach, which seeks to maximize economic, ecological, and social value by following principles inspired by nature.

In addition, Brad Pitt also adds his commentary to the pages. Sounds like a pretty solid read for anyone interested in green building and/or inspiring feats of charity."

“Architecture in Times of Need” is available now for $28.

Dreamers in Dream City: Truly the Spirit of Love Angeles

This morning, I stumbled upon this beautiful slide exhibit put together by LA author and photographer Harry Chandler. The show was put together for the Autry and called Dreamers in Dream City, how appropriate!

 

Pushcart Educator Named CNN Hero of the Year

CNN - Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

The gala event, taped before an audience of 3,000, premiered on Thanksgiving night on the global networks of CNN.

The broadcast honored the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009 and featured performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis.

Peñaflorida, who will receive $100,000 to continue his work with the Dynamic Teen Company, was selected after seven weeks of online voting at CNN.com. More than 2.75 million votes were cast.

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry," Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. "Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.

"So to each and every person inside this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream, as I am the change that I dream, and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."

Shine on, Taylor Swift

Whenever a magical, illuminating light glows, darkness looms in wait, hoping to stifle or dissolve the brightness. To witness such acts play out once again on a massive stage is a reminder of the importance of positivity and faith, a faith based in knowing that goodness always triumphs.  After spreading her beauty and talent nationally and internationally with poise and grace, and, yes, a cosmos of light, it was inevitable that the naysayers and the negative ones were going to appear at Taylor Swift’s door.  With her recognition at its highest point thus far, in the past few months, the firings of the attackers have increased. Yet, though wobbly from the direct hits, she manages to continue walking on a path of love and truth, accepting and understanding her greater purpose.

Standing on a stage at the MTV music awards, shaken by Kanye West’s disrespectful and shameful behavior, Taylor Swift managed to send a message that no one can take our power away unless we let them. With Kanye informing her and the world that she shouldn’t have won the award, Taylor might have believed him, deciding in that very moment that she wasn’t as good as Beyonce.  If her self-worth was coming from her ego, that’s probably what she would have done.  However, when Beyonce, showing lots of class and integrity, invited Taylor back out on the stage to rightfully own her special moment, and I watched as she thanked everyone, I knew then that the only person who could destroy Taylor’s power was Taylor, for her heart is driving her car, and her ego is riding shotgun, where all of our egos should ride.

More than a few prominent people have recently made statements in the form of criticisms that Taylor’s music isn’t country music.  Being from the South, I grew up listening to all the legends, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash to name a few. What made all of these great people country music singers wasn’t their accents or the fact that certain instruments such as the fiddle or banjo could be heard in their songs. It was the fact that they wrote, sang or played simple songs of life experiences as interpreted by their hearts and souls. Country music has a confessional nature to it, too, and I don’t think anyone can argue over how honest, true and heartfelt Taylor’s music is. Songs of good love and good love gone bad are dominant themes in country music, as is songs about Mama and Daddy.  Both of Taylor Swift’s albums are filled with these themes, and she even has a song about Mama and Daddy. Though “The Best Day” isn’t a classic yet like Dolly’s “Coat of Many Colors” or Loretta’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Taylor has managed to write and record an ode to her parents, acknowledging their sacrifices and their love, in the same vein as these classics.

The other day I read an article stating that some are complaining that Taylor Swift’s voice isn’t strong enough and is “embarrassingly weak.”  If I were a betting man, I’d wager a top dollar that Taylor Swift doesn’t think she has the most perfect or most robust voice in music today. However, I’d bet even more that she has the most far-reaching and most powerful voice in music right now, for she is the voice of millions of girls and young women in America and abroad.  She is writing and singing about their emotions, their feelings, their thoughts and their experiences.  And we are all humans with a need to love and be loved, so even older women, boys and men can relate to the subjects and stories in her songs.  I pose the question then of how can you label a voice of such importance and power as one that isn’t strong enough or is too weak?

The 70s had Joni Mitchell and Carole King. The 80s had Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. The 90s had Alanis Morrisette and Sarah McLachlan. All of these women used their writing and singing to capture the attention of the world, for they were saying something we wanted to hear, maybe something we needed to hear.  This decade has Taylor Swift doing the same. At a younger age than any of these icons were at the height of their fame, she’s performing the same demanding and formidable job, and she’s doing it with sophistication, maturity and dignity.

Whenever visibility seems non-existent, continue to shine on, Taylor Swift.  Be the beacon you are, the leader you were meant to be, the leader who lets her open heart guide.

By Jerry Lee Davis
Love Angeles Staff Writer
jerrylee@loveangeles.com

Forth Magazine on Leigh J. McCloskey

Recently, LA's Forth Magazine wrote a beautiful article on our friend and inspiration Leigh McCloskey. Make sure to read the article here and enjoy a magical tour through one of Leigh's masterpieces known as the Hieroglyph of the Human Soul.

"Leigh is a visionary painter and philosopher who has transformed his home into an evolving canvas. His environmental painting, Hieroglyph of the Human Soul, crawls up bookshelves, across the floor, ceiling, and furniture of his studio. Filled with archetypal symbolism and alchemical imagery, Leigh's work is unlike anything the modern art world has to offer. It is an honor to know him, for In my opinion, he is simply one of the great painters of all time; I have no doubt that in years to come his work will be discussed in the same breath as any of the great masters."

-David Wexler, founder Natural Media Research Laboratories

Calling All Noctivagants, the Leonids are Peaking Tonight

Space.com - "One of the best annual meteor showers will peak in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, and for some skywatchers the show could be quite impressive.

The best seats are in Asia, but North American observers should be treated to an above average performance of the Leonid meteor shower, weather permitting. The trick for all observers is to head outside in the wee hours of the morning – between 1 a.m. and dawn – regardless where you live. The Leonids put on a solid show every year, if skies are clear and moonlight does not interfere. This year the moon is near its new phase, and not a factor. For anyone in the Northern Hemisphere with dark skies, away from urban and suburban lighting, the show should be worth getting up early to see.

"We're predicting 20 to 30 meteors per hour over the Americas, and as many as 200 to 300 per hour over Asia," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Other astronomers who work in the nascent field of meteor shower prediction have put out similar forecasts. Urban dwellers and suburbanites will see far fewer, as the fainter meteors will be drowned out by local lights.

Behind the Leonids
The Leonids are created by the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which passes through the inner solar system every 33 years on its orbit around the sun. Each time by, it leaves a new river of debris, mostly bits of ice and rock no bigger than a sand grain but a few the size of a pea or marble. Over time, these cosmic streams spread out, so predicting exactly what will happen is difficult. "We can predict when Earth will cross a debris stream with pretty good accuracy," Cooke said. "The intensity of the display is less certain, though, because we don't know how much debris is in each stream."

When Earth plows into the debris, the bits hit the atmosphere and vaporize, creating sometimes dramatic streaks of light and the occasional fireball with a smoky-looking trail that can remain visible for several minutes. The Leonid stream is moving in the opposite direction of Earth, producing impact speeds of 160,000 mph (72 kilometers per second) – higher than many other meteors. "Such speeds tend to produce meteors with hues of white, blue, aquamarine and even green," says Joe Rao, SPACE.com's skywatching columnist.

How to watch

The best viewing will be in rural areas. Get out of town if you can. If you have local lights, scout a location in advance where the lights are blocked by a building, tree or hill. Dress warmly, and take a blanket or lounge chair so you can lie back and scan as much of the sky as possible. "At this time of year, meteor watching can be a long, cold business," Rao reminds people. Leonids can appear anywhere, but if you trace them back, they all point to a hub, or radiant, in the constellation Leo – hence the name. Give your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Then give the show at least a half-hour. The hourly rates stated above typically come in bursts, with lulls that may test your patience. No special equipment is needed. Telescopes and binoculars are of no use because meteors move too quickly.

When to watch

Earth will pass through one of the denser debris streams at around 4 a.m. EST (1 a.m. PST) Tuesday. If you have only an hour or less to watch, center it around this time. Leo will be high in the sky for East Coast skywatchers, putting more meteors into view. In the West, Leo will be low in the eastern sky at this time, so fewer shooting stars will be above the horizon, and therefore Western skywatchers should also try to stick it out until daybreak.

Across Europe, the best bet is to watch anytime between 1 a.m. and daybreak local time. The planet will pass through an even denser stream later, just before dawn Wednesday in Indonesia and China, but that show won't be visible from North America because it will be daytime here. One truth about the Leonids: They always produce, and they sometimes produce spectacular, unforgettable fireballs.

*FYI: Notcivagant = nighttime walker

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