Dance - The Flash Mob

The Flash Mob has become a cultural phenomenon.  All over the world people get together to perform dance or singing routines. It is all in fun and provides the crowds around them a chance to relax and enjoy.



I think being in one of these would be so much fun.

Water For Elephants

Water for Elephants starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon was directed by Francis Lawrence.


It is set during the depression, and the director uses the era to tell a rich, colorful story about life in a traveling circus and the trials that two people face. Ad in an incredibly smart elephant and you have an awesome movie.





 



In the clip above the director uses many camera angles to portray the scene. You have close ups of the two actors, and the elephant. You have wide panoramic shots to include everyone, and you have a tilted approach to look up at Marlena as she sits atop Rosie.



There is a lot of dialogue here and the filming has to work, to show emotion and meaning to the words,

I Still Believe - Miss Saigon

Miss Saigon

Synopsis
http://www.theatretrust.com/miss-saigon/the-story/synopsis

AN EPIC LOVE STORY


Miss Saigon is a love story about the relationship between
an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman. It is set in 1975 during
the final days of the American occupation of Saigon in the final stages
of the Vietnam War…


Kim is working in a sleazy Saigon night club owned by a notorious wheeler-dealer known as ‘The Engineer’.


John, an American GI, buys his friend Chris the services of Kim for the night. That night will change their lives forever.


Three years later, the US Army has fled Saigon. Chris has returned to
America and is now married to Ellen, an American woman. He believes
that Kim is dead.


However, Kim has left Saigon and is living in poverty with Tam, her
three year old son, in Bangkok. Chris discovers that Kim is alive and
that Tam is his son. He returns to Asia in search of Kim and Tam.


When Kim learns that Chris is in Bangkok with his new wife all her hopes to be reunited with him disappear.


She is desperate for her son to have a future in America with his
father – and she will make the ultimate sacrifice to achieve this.




   

I saw this 17 years ago in Cincinnati and it still sticks with me. It is a very powerful musical. I particularly loved the scene above because it shows twp different points of view at the same time. And though it is on the same stage, you can see the two different settings. The scene along with the emotion told through song really hit me and I admit, I may have cried a little.

"I will wait for you" by Official P4CM Poet JANETTE...IKZ

Wow....  I loved this, because how true is it to me?



How many times do we settle, replace and justify?  Too many.



And yeah, waiting sucks. It does. It's lonely. But isn't it better than that sinking pit in your stomach when it all falls apart, because you tried to change, you tried to be someone else, instead of waiting for that someone who loves you for exactly who you are.



I do believe God has someone out there for me. Someone who's beliefs are like mine. I hope we find each other some day.

Sam Bradley - Only Human

Lyrics:



I don't mind baby,
If you're helpless, or you're wealthless, only human,
If your love is, only something that you bought.

Throw myself in, to the deep end
Cause you're weepin, only human
If my word is really something you want, oh,

And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor
Put that drink down on the bar
We won't be here for long
And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor
Put that drink down on the bar
We won't be here for long;
I know a better place.

For every reason
That you're given
Just excuses only human
You ain't foolin anyone come through that door.



Take a minute, if you need it,
And stop breathing; only human
Let us see that hopeful smile that you once wore.

And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor,
Put that drink down on the bar,
We won't be here for long.
And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor,
Put that drink down on the bar,
We won't be here for long;
I know a better place.

And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor,
Put that drink down on the bar,
We won't be here for long;
I know a better place.

I don't mind baby if you're helpless or you're wealthless,
Only human
Let us see that hopeful smile that you once wore.





This song was written by Sam Bradley and Lee Lindsey.

It was published in 2012.



I first saw Sam perform in Atlanta. He is an amazing artist. He writes his own songs, and they really speak of his life, and experiences.



I chose this one because I thought the meaning of it, Only Human, spoke to me. We all try to hard, do things we know we shouldn't, all because we are only human and we will make mistakes, but we have to get back up and move onward.

Sam Bradley - Only Human

Lyrics:



I don't mind baby,
If you're helpless, or you're wealthless, only human,
If your love is, only something that you bought.

Throw myself in, to the deep end
Cause you're weepin, only human
If my word is really something you want, oh,

And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor
Put that drink down on the bar
We won't be here for long
And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor
Put that drink down on the bar
We won't be here for long;
I know a better place.

For every reason
That you're given
Just excuses only human
You ain't foolin anyone come through that door.



Take a minute, if you need it,
And stop breathing; only human
Let us see that hopeful smile that you once wore.

And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor,
Put that drink down on the bar,
We won't be here for long.
And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor,
Put that drink down on the bar,
We won't be here for long;
I know a better place.

And oh, oh, pick yourself up off the floor,
Put that drink down on the bar,
We won't be here for long;
I know a better place.

I don't mind baby if you're helpless or you're wealthless,
Only human
Let us see that hopeful smile that you once wore.





This song was written by Sam Bradley and Lee Lindsey.

It was published in 2012.



I first saw Sam perform in Atlanta. He is an amazing artist. He writes his own songs, and they really speak of his life, and experiences.



I chose this one because I thought the meaning of it, Only Human, spoke to me. We all try to hard, do things we know we shouldn't, all because we are only human and we will make mistakes, but we have to get back up and move onward.

One World Trade Center



Yes, New York again. It is one of the few places I have had the opportunity to visit and it was amazing. The city is full of art and majesty. The city has many architecturally awesome buildings to choose from, but I choose the One World Trade Center, because I got to see it during and after construction.

 

The One World Trade Center was still in construction when I visited in 2010."Designed by renowned architect David Childs, of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP, One World Trade Center incorporates new architectural and environmental standards, setting a new level of social responsibility in urban design."  In this picture, you can see the steel beam and concrete used in the design making it "one of the safest commercial structures in the world and the premier commercial business address in New York."

 

http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/index.html 

 



 

When I was in New York again in 2013 the building was almost complete. It was still not open and I was unable to see the inside, but the outside was very impressive. The glass reflects all corners of the city.

The view from the Staten Island Ferry. This actually gave me the shivers because I thought of the Twin Towers, their height, and what happened Here we have another building standing out, proud, daring. It is almost like a challenge.

I especially loved the night time view. the lights and the glass reflect everything off the water. It was truly beautiful.

May We Never Forget

I got to see this when I visited New York for the first time in 2010.

It was a very emotional experience. Seeing the depiction of the events that took place on September 11th brought me to tears. The names of the firefighters lost are listed at the bottom of the sculpture. It is set into the brick wall on the side of  FDNY Ladder Company 10 Engine 10 firehouse, directly south of the WTC site."

The project was commissioned by a NY Law Firm, Holland and Night. It was designed by Joseph A Oddi and sculpted by Joseph Petrovics. (http://www.fdnytenhouse.com/fdnywall/about.htm)  

This picture was taken in 2010, when I saw it again in 2013 the copper had started to discolor and it was noted to me that it would eventually turn green like the Statue of Liberty, this was purposely done. It is a relief sculpture as it is set into a wall, and can only be seen from one side. The copper was molded in a French Sand cast in three separate pieces. After it was ready they moved them to there permanent location. The pieces weighed a total of 7,000 pounds. 
Each piece was set to tell a story. The articulation of the sculpture moves the viewer through the story of the fire fighters and the struggle, and tragedy of the Twin Towers.

Lewis Hine, Photographer

" Miners: Harley Bruce, a young coupling-boy at Indian Mine. He appears to be 12 or 14 years old and says he has been working there about a year. It is hard work and dangerous. Near Jellico, Tennessee."

 

 "The Mill: One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night. Runs 4 sides - 48 cents a day. When asked how old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then added confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same." Out of 50 employees, there were ten children about her size. Whitnel, North Carolina."

These are two photographs taken by Lewis Hine. His photographs highlighted child labor during 1908-1912. They helped bring realization to America of the working conditions and facts of child labor.

I think about a lot of things while looking at these. I feel sad, angry, righteous. Also, I wonder about our time and what is happening to children now. Is this still happening? America has labor laws, but are they followed? What about immigrants or illegals? We know of reports of child labor in other counties.

These pictures, though old, and dated are still very valid today and they stand the test of time.

** Picture quotes by Lewis Hine. See more at http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/

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